The Art and Craft of Urartian Helmet Making

From the beginning of the 9th century BC, the kingdom of Urartu began military expansion to the east and south of its territory. Urartu's expansionism, which had economic goals, was always accompanied by military conflicts. For this reason, the Urartian metalworkers became skilled in the production of various offensive and defensive weapons, so that specialized branches emerged among the craftsmen, one of which was the manufacture of helmets and other defense tools. Urartu helmets can be divided into two main groups: (1) standard helmets and (2) shoulder helmets. Standard helmets are divided into three groups in terms of shape: (1) conical, (2) sharp, (3) pointed. The inscriptions on the helmets have made it possible to date them. Inscribed helmets were made throughout the history of the Urartu Kingdom. The main metal used in making Urartu helmets is bronze. To make a helmet, first, thin sheets of bronze were produced by casting technique. Then, the craftsman makes these sheets into a cone shape by bending or riveting, and then the artist makes a pattern on it by hammering and penning. Helmet making was accompanied by side handicrafts such as earplugs making, shoulder strap making and leather embroidery.