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Τhe Boar helmet has been a potent symbol of warrior prowess through out the Indo-European world. This is not surprising considering the Boar, in short is a symbol of the transformative powers of meeting the struggle of life head on. This article will be a short overview of this magnificent war talisman, the Boar helmet.

The earliest evidence we have of Boar helmets comes from Mariupol in the Ukraine, dating to around 2000BC. Mariupol is situated just north of the Black sea, located in the Pontic Steppe. This area is of course where Yamna culture developed, who many consider to be the originators of the Indo-European languages. Given the dating of this artefact though, it is more likely to belong to the Catacomb culture, which appears to of developed at least in part out of Yamna culture. This early Boar helm is simple in its construction, consisting of slithers of Boar tusks added to a leather cap. Below is an artistic impression of how this helm may of looked when it was originally made.



The simple construction would of offered little protection and was probably considered more a status symbol. Boars being a notoriously brave and bold animal were not an easy opponent for a bronze age hunter. The Boars nature, unlike most “prey” animals, is to charge its attacker, bringing his full weight and lethal tusks to bare down upon the aggressor. Given the dangers involved Boar tusks would of been a rare commodity, that only the brave or wealthy could obtain. This would of given Boar tusks a high status appeal, for the hunter a symbol of skill and for the affluent one of wealth. It is also possible given my interpretation of the Boar symbol as a symbol, not only of adversary, but also one of transformation and birthing that these helmets may of been used in an initiation process. Whatever the true meaning behind this helmet was, we know that it must of carried with it a powerful status, that as we will see continues to hold meaning for millennia.

The next example in history comes from the Island of Aegina within the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea, dating around 1800bc. At this time the Island of Aegina is considered to have significant influence from Minoan civilisation, given the findings of Minoan ceramics at around 2000bc. The Boar helmets appearance on the Island though offers up an interesting enigma, given its roots in the Pontic Steppe. The helm itself (below left) is much more sophisticated in design and is clearly a precursor to the type of Boar Tusk helm found in the slightly later Mycenaean Greek era. Its appearance in the Aegean sea before mainland Greece adds to the enigma of exactly how the Pontic steppe cultures interacted and influenced these early Mediterranean cultures.



As mentioned this basic design (above left) is almost certainly the influence for later Mycenaean Greek Boar Helmets Many examples are found from this era (above centre) and elaborate frescos often depict warriors with such an adornment (above right). The Boar Helmets of this age consisted of anything up to 140 individual Boar tusks to make and would of required a high level of skill to produce. The fact that they appear to be preferred over metal alternatives, even though they offer less protection, only adds to their status as a powerful talisman of the hero. It is highly likely from accounts by Homer, that these helmets were often passed down as heirlooms by elite warriors. Because of its high status and symbolic meaning this style of helmet remained a consistent aspect of the heroic Mycenaean culture, from beginning to end.

https://mimirsbrunnr.com/2018/12/14/the ... -to-italy/

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