The Dendra panoply...the bronze-plate armor worn by the Mycenaean-era warrior, ca. 15th century BC. The armor was much more cumbersome and we can see why the evolution to the hoplite armor of the archaic and classical period was necessitated.

This important artifact is on display at the Nafplion Archaeological Museum.

Photo: Schuppi

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The upper body protection (cuirass) worn by Alexander the Great's father, Philip II of Macedon.

Photo: Harry Gouvas

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An amphora from ca. 480 BC which provides a wealth of information on the Greek hoplite's panoply...e.g., concavity of shield and the apron which was used to deflect arrows.

The artifact is on display at the Getty Museum.

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One of the most beautiful components of the ancient Greek hoplite's panoply and one of the most recognizable emblems of Greek warfare, the celebrated Corinthian helmet.

Attribution: Kallos Gallery

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Of the helmets worn by ancient Greek warriors, the most famous is the Corinthian. However, the Chalcidian variety may have been more effective on the battlefield, as a result of the better hearing and vision which it allowed.

This Chalcidian helmet from the 4th century BC with hinged cheek-piece, one of which is missing is on display at the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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The gold-decorated panoply (πανοπλία) of King Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great.

The armor is on display at the Archaeological Museum of Vergina in Central Macedonia, Greece.

Photo: AP/ Petros Giannakouris

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An excellent close-up which provides some semblance of the hardship endured by the ancient Greek warrior during battle. While this artifact is the most beautiful variant of the Corinthian helmet, it did have its limitations. For example, vision was impaired peripherally...the hoplite could only see directly ahead, therefore, in order to see what was happening to his sides, he would have to turn his head in that direction. This movement would then hamper his vision in front, therefore, he would be vulnerable to attack from the enemy directly in front of him.

The helmet did evolve to a more 'open-faced' variety to combat this severe hindrance!

This artifact is dated ca. 500 BC and is on display at the Staatliche Antikensammlungen in Munich, Germany.

Attribution: oriana.italy

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Museum visitors admire the beauty and craftsmanship of helmets worn by the warriors of ancient Greece.

The open-faced helmets that are on the left are Illyrian helmets while those to the right are the more famous, Corinthian variety.

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This image is of perhaps the most famous linothorax that has been depicted on any artifact...the Alexander Mosaic which dates back to ca. 100 BC. This type of upper body protection has been rendered on other works of art, however, not have survived because they were made of organic material and decomposed.

This artwork is a copy which was on the floor of a private residence in Rome...the House of the Faun (Casa del Fauno), however, it is believed that the mosaic was based on an early 3rd century BC Hellenistic painting, possibly by Philoxenos of Eretria.

The original mosaic has been removed from the residence and can be viewed at the Naples National Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli).

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