The earliest form of helmets appear to have only had centrally mounted
plumes. In the early Imperial period, fittings have been found
indicating the use of removable crest boxes. The evidence for crest
boxes are mainly "U" shaped crest holders that could be
attached at the back of helmets. There also appear normally to have been
either plume or possibly feather holders positioned on either side of
the helmets. Blending functionality with the beautiful designs, the
Roman helmets were accustomed to combat rather than parade or
ornamentation. The Romans developed several forms of helmets, including
the round legionary's helmet and the special gladiator's helmet, with
broad brim and pierced visor, giving exceptional protection to head,
face, and neck. The features include: non-rust construction, adjustable
padded liner, padded cheek guards and leather chin strap. Montefortino Helmets
The earliest forms of helmets were called "Montefortino", made from brass and domed in shape, with a small extension at the back as a neck guard. They normally have a plug-in plume holder on the crown of the helmet, which was conical in shape and in the earliest forms with a scalloped decoration on the plume holder.
Coolus Helmets
These were based on a Gallic form of helmet and were a simple hemispherical bowl made out of bronze with a reinforcing peak running horizontally across the brow and with a larger extension at the back as a neck guard.
Imperial-Gallic Helmets
These were more decorated with embossed "eyebrows", had a re-enforced peak and a ridged extension at the back as a neck-guard. These helmets were mainly made of iron with recesses for the ears and brass decoration including small circular bosses on the helmet and the cheek pieces.
Imperial-Italic Helmets
These were similar in shape to the Imperial-Gallic and used twist on crests that were held in a "T" shaped holder on the crown.
The patterns of auxiliary helmets were generally very plain and of simple construction when compared to the legionary helmets. The Roman cavalry helmets had iron construction with brass trims. The main officers of the Imperial Roman guard were the Centurions, each in charge of 100 men, hence the name ''century''. These Centurion Generals wore adorned plumed helms that could be easily seen in battle.
