The Sutton Hoo Helmet

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Illustration

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
by
published on 01 April 2016
The Sutton Hoo Helmet Download Full Size Image

This is one of just 4 complete helmets to survive from Anglo-Saxon England. It has been painstakingly reconstructed from the shattered condition in which it was found. The Sutton Hoo Helmet's exceptional survival and haunting appearance have made it an icon of the early medieval period. The helmet consists of an iron cap with a crest, neck guard, cheek-pieces, and face mask. It was originally covered with tinned copper alloy panels and decorated with animal and warrior motifs. Viewed together, the helmet's mouth, nose, and eyebrows form the image of a flying beast. Similar helmets are known from eastern Sweden, implying shared cultural traditions and interactions with east Anglia. The scarcity of surviving Anglo-Saxon helmets indicates that only those of great status could posses them. From Sutton Hoo, Ship-burial Mound 1, England. Late 500s to early 600 CE. The British Museum, London. Donated by Mrs. Edith M. Pretty in 1939.

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About the Author

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Amin, O. S. M. (2016, April 01). The Sutton Hoo Helmet. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4841/the-sutton-hoo-helmet/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "The Sutton Hoo Helmet." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified April 01, 2016. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4841/the-sutton-hoo-helmet/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "The Sutton Hoo Helmet." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 01 Apr 2016. Web. 28 Nov 2023.

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