Getty Museum

Prometopidion

Date

about 480 B.C.

Medium

Bronze, amber, ivory

Culture

Greek (South Italian)

Department

Armor

Institution

Getty Museum

A warrior's helmeted head decorates the upper portion of this prometopidion, a piece of armor that covered a horse's forehead. Both repousse and incision are used for decorative details on the elaborate Chalcidian helmet, such as the bands of guilloche pattern, tongues and hair-curl-like forms that run over the brows. The cheek pieces of the helmet terminate in rams’ heads, and the warrior's eyes are inlaid with ivory and amber. The lower part of the prometopidion is missing (compare 83.AC.7.1). The small holes running around the edge of the prometopidion allowed a leather backing to be sewn onto the bronze for cushioning; the larger holes were for attachment to the bridle.

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