The Kizil Caves as an terminus post quem of the Central and Western Asiatic pear-shape spangenhelm type helmets. The David Collection helmet and its place in the evolution of multisegmented dome helmets

Abstract

Current paper consists of two main parts. In the first part the author discusses arms and armor presented in the Kizil Caves depictions, suggesting a datation of the two well-knowncaves, namely so-called Maya Cave and Cave of the Painter. In the second part of this paper the author discusses a helmet found in Iran and currently held in the David Collection,Copenhagen. On the basis of a detailed comparative analysis, the author puts forward a thesis of correlation between the lamellar and spangen pear-shape helmets dating the objects tolate 6th-beginning of the 7th century CE. Specifically, it is suggested that the David Collection helmet is a later evolution of such forms that was known in the late-Sasanian period.