Ancient Panoply

Winged greek Phrygian helm, from 400 bc.

The spider helmet was a late type of head protection, its "legs" were designed to protect the head and face from sword slashes, and could be folded up when not in use.

A video made for the Museum of Cluny, and its "The Sword: Uses, Myths and Symbols" exhibit. It tries to dispel some of the beliefs that are still prevalent today about the weight and mobility of fighters in plate armor and show some of the techniques used in combat against armored opponents

Armor for the Kolbenturnier, a german type of tournament where two teams bashed each other's heads with wooden clubs, trying to hit the crest on the helms. Dated 1480

Four japanese Chokutō, straight swords from the Kofun period, 6-7th century .

Armor of Henri II of France, about 1555.

German helmet by famous armorsmith Jörg Seusenhofer ca. 1540

German bicoque helmet, from 1440

The sword of Svante Nilsson (ca. 1500) is one of the few swords found in tombs of medieval Sweden.

Armor of Pierre Bruner, a Swiss knight in the service of the french crown. ca. 1600

The blade is 99 cm in length. The handle is of gold in the shape of two serpents, and is encrusted with rubies and turquoise. Near the handle is a Kufic inscription saying: 'Abdallah b. 'Abd al-Muttalib. Today the sword is housed in the Topkapi Museum, Istanbul.

15th Century Kriegsmesser

Helmet of Coţofeneşti, a Geto-Dacian gold helm dating from the first half of the 4th century BC

Two examples of painted black sallets. These helms were usually bought from the armorer with a "black from the hammer" finish. They were sent to other artisans for decoration, some were painted like these, and others were covered with fabric.

This type of helms with masklike visors were popular in the period between 1510 and 1540 in Germany and Austria.

The sword of Goujian is a chinese bronze artifact from the Spring and Autumn period (771 to 403 bce) Despite being found in a subterranean tomb soaked with water its nearly airtight scabbard allowed a great state of preservation. The sword is supposed to have belonged to King Goujian of Wu

The Cluny Sword, an excellent example of a 15th century longsword