Tell ʾUmm Ḥōrān: Helios

 

Two helmets have illegally been excavated in a tomb at the Roman necropolis of Tell ʾUmm Ḥōrān, Darʿā Governorate, at the beginning of the summer of 1955. They were confiscated by the Directorate General of Antiquities, which subsequently conducted further excavations at that site and unearthed a great quantity of interesting objects. 

The first helmet consists of an upper part and a mask. It has intentionally been folded in two at the time of the burial of its owner. The top of the upper part is dominated by the radiating bust of the Sun, under which a Victory stretches her arms to crown a bearded Roman warrior leaning on a spear. This perhaps is a representation of the owner of the helmet. On both sides, the group is surrounded by an eagle, symbol of the solar god who presides at this coronation. Two identical groups occupy the parietal area bilaterally; they feature the apotheosis of a hero ascending to heaven in his quadriga. Finally, the mask shows a triangular bearded face. 

Era: Roman.
Substance: bronze.
Height: 24-25 cm.
Text: adapted from Abdul-Hak (English translation by George Haddad)
Collection: National Museum of Damascus. 

Catalogue du Musée National de Damas. publication de la Direction Générale des Antiquités et des Musées. Damas 1969.

Sélim Abdul-Hak. The Treasures of the National Museum of Damascus. Publication of the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) 1959. 

Helmet of a Roman warrior

Tell ʾUmm Ḥōrān: le dieu solaire