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Greek Corinithian-style bronze helmet that has been "killed" 700-500 BCE
The legend for this exhibit explained that the ancient Greeks sometimes ritually "killed" a helmet by bending its cheek flanges outward.
"It was the custom for victorious Greek cities to dedicate tropaia, ‘trophies’ of armour from the defeated, in the sanctuary of one of the gods. When the trophy collapsed from age or when the sanctuary became too full the armour was buried, but first it was ‘killed’ as part of the process of offering it to the gods: the cheekpieces were bent
back and the noseguard turned up to render the helmet useless in this world." - Walters Art Museum
Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland USA
