Viking Helmets

The Vikings were one of the most famous warriors that once earned their fame and wealth through raidings and battling. Their wonderful skill was not the sole element that helped them win many battles. Besides the skills, the Viking warriors possessed the powerful armor that protected them from blades of the foes. Though their mail was quite complicated, the Viking helmet was fairly simple but still useful in battles. 

Indeed, the Viking helmet was one of the simplest war protectors of any time. It was merely a bowl with a nose guard. Many people may question what about the horns. However, there were no horns in the Viking helmets. Such images, we believe, are the products of modern fabrication. The Viking wore no horned helmets as such because people unearthed the burial of a Viking warrior only to discover that their helmet included no horns. 

Like many other armor or weapons, the Viking helmets were made from the iron. Many materials pointed out that the Vikings once used many pieces of iron to rivet together only to create the powerful Viking helmets. People called it the spangenhelm style. This spangenhelm method was more likely to be used in the Viking age because ancient blacksmiths cannot have created the helmet with only one piece of iron. 

There was an iron band that circled the helmet just above the warriors' brows. And two more iron bands would be riveted crossing the top of the helmet. The nose guard was riveted right between the brow and running downwards. At first sight, this nose guard might look quite useless and somewhat ridiculous. But when in battles, this nose guard for sure would prevent the warriors' nose from being broken. 

It was quite vague about what was inside the Viking helmets. However, it was believed that the Vikings must have placed something inside in order to lift the helmet up off the head and to absorb the force of the blow. Some absorbent materials must have been used inside the helmet. It could be leather like sheepskin. This would not only absorb the blow but also absorb the sweat from the head preventing the helmet from rusting from inside. 

The form of chin fastening was also necessary for any helmet, especially helmet for battles. The helmet would easily fall off without the chin fastening. However, there were barely any materials about the chin straps in the Viking helmets that we can see today. 

There were many other designs for the Viking helmets. They might have designed with the iron spectacle-like face covering. This would serve to reduce the chance of being attacked into the face of the warrior. Some other helmets were also attached with the mail curtains on the neck to provide additional protection. Some cheek protection forms were applied as well.