Samnite Bronze Panoply of Armor

An ancient Samnite or Etruscan panoply of bronze armor, consisting of an Italo-Corinthian helmet with pseudo-eye holes and incised wild boars on the cheek pieces; a cuirass with geometric musculature on the chest plate and a raised spine on the back plate; and a pair of greaves with raised abstract musculature.

Ca. 450 -350 BC.

Height of the helmet: 11 in. (28 cm).Height of the cuirass: 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm).

The Samnites were a native group occupying south-central Italy. They fought a series of three wars against the Roman Republic (343-341 BC, 327-304 BC, and 298-290 BC). Despite achieving an overwhelming victory over the Romans at the Battle of the Caudine Forks (321 BC), the Samnites were eventually subjugated. They later helped Pyrrhus and Hannibal in their wars (280-275 BC and 218-201 BC) against Rome. The Samnites were eventually assimilated by the Romans, and ceased to exist as a distinct people.

Confer for the cuirass: D. Cahn, "Waffen und Zaumzeug," (Basel) p. 70; Museo Etrusco Gregoriano, Rome Inv. no. 12330; British Museum, Inv no. GR1902.4-28.2. For the greaves: D. Cahn, "Waffen und Zaumzeug," (Basel) p. 34.For the helmet, ibid, pp. 30-33; also, Pflug et al., "Antike Helme, Sammlung Lipperheide und Andere Bestande des Antikenmuseums Berlin," (Mainz, 1988), pp. 107-136, Rutigliano grave 11, p. 122, for helmet and greaves together.

Formerly in a French private collection; subsequently in a New Jersey private collection.

Inv#: 9319

Guaranteed Authentic

Price On Request