The 9 Different Types of Roman Helmets (Galea)

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See how the helmets of Roman soldiers changed over the centuries

Co-authored by Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: March 29, 2026 Fact Checked

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About Roman Helmets

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Types of Roman Helmet

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Helmet Crests

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Ancient Roman soldiers tend to be depicted with the same type of helmet in pop culture: a domed top, a bright red crest, and a nose guard. But how accurate is that depiction, really? In this article, we’ll give you a thorough introduction to the main types of helmets used throughout different eras of the Roman Empire—including what each helmet looked like and key features differentiating them. So, what are you waiting for? Keep reading to learn more about this iconic piece of gear used by Roman legionaries.

An Intro to Roman Army Helmets

An illustration of each Roman helmet type, with labels for each.

Helmets worn by soldiers of the Roman Empire include early examples like the Montefortino, Coolus, Agen, and Port types, as well as the Imperial Gallic and Imperial Italic helmets of the Republic period. During the Late Roman Empire, soldiers wore ridged helmets like the Intersica, Berkasovo, and Spangenhelm types.

Section 1 of 3:

What is the Roman Helmet?

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The legionary helmet or galea is a piece of armor worn by Roman soldiers. Roman legionary helmets took on different shapes and sizes over time, but many of their key features remained the same (or, at least, similar). They were historically made from iron, bronze, and other sturdy metals to withstand weapon strikes in battle, with more protective elements added over the centuries. Roman helmets often included the following components:^{[1]
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- Bowl: Most Roman helmets had a bowl-shape to protect the skull, roughly conforming to the shape of the head (sometimes with built-in ear guards, too).
- Crest (crestum): A decorative feature made from feathers or horse hair. Crests were located at the top of the helmet, either longitudinally or transversally, often as a symbol of rank.
- Cheek guards: Metal or leather plates—usually riveted or attached to the base helmet—that hung down on either side of the face, covering the cheeks and jaw.
- Neck guard: A plate or piece of material extending over the back of the neck (and even the shoulders) to protect them from injury in battle.
- Brow band: A band spanning the forehead to keep the helmet in place, preventing it from shifting around in battle.

Section 2 of 3:

Types of Roman Helmet (Galea)

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Montefortino helmetThe Montefortino style is one of ancient Rome’s earliest and longest-serving helmet types, derived from Celtic design. Montefortino helmets are characterized by their rounded (conical) shape, raised central knob at the top of the head, and protective cheek plates. They’re designed to deflect sword strikes and arrows, with protruding neck guards for added coverage.^{[2]
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- Time period: 4th century BC through the 1st century AD
- Made from: Bronze (and occasionally iron). It’s possible the helmets’ cheek guards could’ve been made from a perishable material, like leather, as they’re often missing from surviving helmets.
- The Montefortino helmet is named after Italy’s Montefortino region, where the first such helmet relic was discovered in a Celtic burial site.
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Coolus helmetRome’s Coolus helmet has both Celtic and Roman origins, co-existing with the Montefortino style. It features a plain hemispherical (domed) top with a brow guard, ribbed neck guard, and hinged cheek guards on either side. Additionally, the helmet’s cheek and neck guards protrude out toward the jaw for coverage without obscuring the wearer’s vision. These helmets can also feature a crest knob that’s been riveted or soldered on.^{[3]
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- Time period: 3rd century BC through the 1st century AD (around 79 AD)
- Made from: Bronze or brass
- The Coolus was particularly popular during Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars, which took place from 58 to 50 BC.
- Because the Coolus and Montefortino helmets had a relatively simple design, the Romans could mass-produce them easily.
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Agen helmetThe Agen helmet style is often named alongside the Port (described below), and although the two are similar, their designs are distinct in a few different ways. The Agen helmet has Celtic origins; though only a few have survived, they’re characterized by rounded caps that cover the head with a double rim (like a bowler hat) and cheek guards riveted to either side of the helmet. It may have been favored by Gallic infantry soldiers.^{[4]
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- Time period: Around the 1st century BC through the 1st century AD
- Made from: Iron
- Ancient Celts were known for their skill in making iron helmets, which is why Roman helmets clearly borrowed so much from their designs.
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Port helmetThe Port helmet is similar to both the Agen and Coolus types, featuring a rounded skull cap to cover the head, a brow ridge (to break downward blows), and a rim, with the lower edge protruding out at the front, forming a peak. Additionally, the Port helmet has a separate neck-guard covering the nape of the neck and riveted to the rest of the helmet. Given its design, the Port helmet may have been worn by cavalry soldiers.^{[5]
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- Time period: Around the 1st century BC through the 1st century AD
- Made from: Iron
- The Port helmet’s main differentiating features from the Agen style are its larger neck-guard and relatively less pronounced brim.
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Imperial Gallic helmetThe Imperial Gallic helmet rose to prominence after Rome’s conquest of Gaul during the Late Republic period. A few different models of this helmet have been discovered, each with slightly different features, but generally, an Imperial Gallic helmet can be characterized by a pair of embossed eyebrows across the forehead area and ear guards (as well as a rounded top, protruding neck guard, and riveted cheek guards, much like its predecessors).^{[6]
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- Time period: The late 1st century BC through the early 2nd century AD
- Made from: Iron
- The Imperial Gallic helmet is actually a subtype of the “Imperial helmet,” with the other subtype being Imperial Italic helmets.
- “Gallic” refers to the helmet’s main manufacturers rather than the people who wore it, as they were primarily developed by Celtic craftspeople in Gaul.
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Imperial Italic helmetThe Imperial Italic helmet lacks some of its Gallic counterpart’s sophistication; it doesn’t have embossed eyebrows, and earlier surviving examples are roughly-made compared to the carefully-crafted Gallic helmets. Over time, however, they grew more refined, and later surviving examples are just as well-made as an Imperial Gallic helmet. The Imperial Italic style is otherwise very similar to the Imperial Gallic, with a sloped neck guard, ear guards, and decorative trim.^{[7]
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- Time period: The late 1st century BC through the early 3rd century AD
- Made from: Iron or bronze
- “Italic” refers to the helmet’s manufacturers, who were primarily craftspeople in Italy and around the Roman Empire.
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Intersica helmetThe Intersica is a variant of the Roman ridge helmets used by the Late Roman army. It’s characterized by a rounded bowl-shape made from two half-skulls, joined by a longitudinal ridge (running from the forehead to the back of the head). The Intersica helmet also features a neck guard and cheek guards attached to the main helmet with a lining, and oval-shaped holes for the ears.^{[8]
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- Time period: Around the 3rd or 4th century AD, well into the 7th century (or even later)
- Made from: Iron
- As time went on, Roman helmets came to have fewer Celtic influences and more inspiration from Sassanid Persian designs. These Sassanid influences can be seen in Late Roman ridge helmets.
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Berkasovo helmetThe Berkasovo-type helmet is another variant of the Roman ridge helmet, like the Intersica helmets above. These helmets were extremely protective and decorative, featuring a bowl cap made from two to four different parts, a longitudinal ridge (running from the forehead to the back of the head), a heavy band curving over both eyes, large cheek guards, and a strong nasal guard. However, they didn’t have ear holes (unlike other Roman helmets).^{[9]
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- Time period: Around the 3rd or 4th century AD, well into the 7th century (or even later)
- Made from: Iron, though they were often sheathed in a different metal (like silver) and decorated with other materials, such as glass gems.
- Interestingly, a nasal guard—which is often associated with “stereotypical” Roman armor designs—isn’t found in Celtic-Roman helmets. This is just one way that Roman helmets influenced by Sassanid designs were distinct!
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SpangenhelmDon’t let the German name fool you—the Spangenhelm was used by many European peoples. Another type of segmented helmet, like the Intersica and Berkasovo, the Spangenhelm consists of a conical (domed) frame that curves around the head and comes to a point. Other common Spangenhelm features include a nasal guard and attached flaps to protect the cheeks made from metal or leather, as well as mail to cover the neck.^{[10]
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- Time period: Around the 4th century AD into the 7th or 8th century AD
- Made from: Iron, typically, although other materials (like leather, steel, or bronze) could also be incorporated.
- The name “Spangenhelm” refers to the metal strips that create the helmet’s frame. Spangen roughly translates to “braces,” while helm means “helmet.”
- The Spangenhelm was spread by Iranian tribes (including the Scythians and Sarmatians) into Western Europe, its design resembling Turkic-type helmets.

Section 3 of 3:

Roman Helmet Crests

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Some soldiers’ helmets had crest-holders and crests. A helmet’s eye-catching crest could be made from feather plumes or horse hair. Roman helmets often had red fur, but a crest could be made with yellow, purple, or black colors as well (or even multiple alternating colors). Higher-ranking soldiers tended to have bigger crests; centurions (officers) likely wore them constantly in the early empire, while legionaries (Roman soldiers) only wore them occasionally.^{[11]
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- Certain Roman gladiators, including samnis and hoplomachus, probably wore feathered crests, too.
- Some evidence suggests that legionaries wore theirs longitudinally (up and down the head), while centurions wore theirs transversely (across the head).

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If you’re looking for collectible replicas of Roman helmets (and other Roman equipment), you can find them online via sites like Kult of Athena or Medieval Collectibles.

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