Urartian bronze conical helmet

This bronze conical helmet is an archaeological find from the state of Urartu, dating from the 8th–7th centuries BC. Urartu lay on the territory of present-day Armenia, eastern Turkey and north-western Iran. Bronze was typical of military objects of that period, and the conical shape was designed to deflect blows from the head.

Along the lower edge of the helmet are rows of semicircular patterns and a procession of human figures, which are thought to depict deities or ritual scenes. According to the source, these images may indicate that the helmet had a ritual or ceremonial purpose, not only a combat one. Similar objects are displayed at the Erebuni Historical and Archaeological Museum-Reserve in Yerevan and in the British Museum.