PANOPLY

Arms and Armor of Antiquity

Our current gallery exhibition PANOPLY focuses on military gear of the ancient Greeks. Armor smiths working in the city-states of ancient Greece were extremely prolific. For hundreds of years they produced a myriad of weapons, helmets and armor designs for a class of citizen soldiers, Hoplites, that were the backbone of Greek society. These militia men, were not full time soldiers. They were farmers, businessmen, politicians, artists, architects, philosophers, and playwrights. But when they were compelled to defend their homes against foreign domination, they donned their panoplies of armor, took shield and spear and joined the phalanx. The ancient Greek armor that has come down to us exemplifies the spirit of the Hoplite. Helmets were not mass produced in a state run factory,they were made individually to the specifications of the soldier. Greek armor smiths made great strides over the centuries strengthening and lightening their wares to provide maximum protection the men who were such vital members of their society.

Our exhibition features over a dozen helmets dating from the Archaic through the Classical and Hellenistic Periods. There are very fine examples of each of the major ancient Greek helmet types – Corinthian, Illyrian, Chalcidian and Attic – are on display. Military gear from the cultures peripheral to ancient Greece are also represented, including Persian, Scythian, Etruscan and Celtic weapons and armor. Earlier material such as Bronze Age European and Near Eastern swords and spears are also represented. Along with Roman weapons, we have a superb Roman Imperial parade helmet, representing the zenith of Classical armor production.

Bronze Age European Sword

Luristan Bronze Sword

Thracian Iron Sica and Scabbard

Bronze Age European Sword

Celtic Iron Shield Boss and Hand Grips

Roman Iron Pugio

Luristan Bronze Short Sword

Bronze Age European Spear

Luristan Bronze Axe

Late Roman Bronze Sword Guard

Iberian Bronze Dagger Sheath and Belt

Roman Iron Pugio Blade

Celtic Iron Spearhead

Egyptian Bronze Sword

Luristan Bronze Sword

Roman Iron Spatha

Luristan Bronze Dagger

Luristan Bronze Whetstone

Bronze Age European Spear Blade

Bronze Age European Spear Blade

Canaanite Bronze Axe

Canaanite Bronze Axe

Luristan Bronze Sword

Luristan Bronze Belt

Curated by Randall Hixenbaugh

Mr. Hixenbaugh is a recognized expert in the field of ancient Greek arms and armor. He is the author of “Ancient Greek Helmets: A Complete Guide and Catalog,”. This substantial work is the most comprehensive study ever produced on the subject. The work covers not only the archaeological data relating to the finds of ancient Greek helmets, but also the literary and epigraphic evidence, metallurgical analysis, and art historical considerations. The exhaustive study, cataloging and illustrating over 2500 ancient Greek helmets in both public and private collections worldwide, has become the standard reference work on the subject for both academics and armchair enthusiasts.


Join our mailing list