Vegetus is quoted as stating that centurions had a different form of crest and some sculptures of centurions show them with crests mounted transversely across their helmets, while representations of legionaries normally have the crest running from the brows towards the nape of the neck. Evidence from sculpture and monuments indicate that by the 2nd Century AD the crests were not used during combat and are mainly depicted only in use for parades or festivals. The purposes of these plumes or crests are thought to have been either for decoration, unit identification or as an indication of rank. If feathers were used then these might have been goose feathers as sacred to Juno. There also appear normally to have been either plume or possibly feather holders positioned on either side of the helmets. The lack of other non-metal remains indicates that crest boxes may have mainly been made out of wood so have rotted away over time. The evidence for crest boxes are mainly U-shaped crest holders which could be attached to fixing points in the centre of the crown and at the back of helmets. The earliest form of helmets appear to have only had centrally mounted plumes but in the early Imperial period late 1st BC to early 2nd century AD fittings have been found indicating that removable crest boxes might have been used. If this style had continued in the Roman period then plumes or crests would normally have been a combination of white, black or red-brown in colour as horse-hair is difficult to dye using only natural vegetable dyes.
The plumes and crests, based on the styles depicted on the pottery, appear to have used either feathers or naturally coloured horse-hair. The earliest forms known were probably similar to those depicted on early Greco-Etruscan pottery. Most of the helmets normally identified as used by legionaries have some form of plume or crest holder on the crown of the helmet but the precise method of attachment varies depending on period, location made and the type of helmet.
His book The Armour of Imperial Rome gives detailed descriptions of his classification system but it is currently apparently out of print and rarely available so consequently is expensive to buy through dealers. He also classified approximately 30 different types of check guards, which were in use with these and other varieties of Roman Helmets. These were additionally lettered within each group to show significant variations in date and methods of construction. For infantry he used four classifications for Legionary helmets. Russell Robinson worked in the Royal Armouries and in 1975 was the primary researcher who using the available information, from archaeological finds of helmets throughout the Imperial Roman period, classified into broad divisions the various forms that were being found. Due to the number of individual helmets discovered on Roman sites, even when incomplete, similarities of form and function have become apparent along with an indication of how different helmets were developed over time. The primary evidence therefore devolves to a scattering of archaeological finds, which are often damaged or incomplete.
ROMAN CENTURION HELMET FULL
In either event even the most realistic of carving may not allow an accurate interpretation to be made of how the average Roman Legionary or Auxiliary would be equipped in full battle array. However, often the quality of carving remaining today is not as good as that in Roman examples, so their utility for historical accuracy has often either been ignored or questioned. Local masons in the provinces around Legion camps may give a more accurate indication of the actual equipment used, as they would have been working with or for people wearing similar equipment to their subject. An alternative suspicion is that when any equipment was shown on monuments in Rome it may have reflected that commonly used by either the Praetorian troops or Urban Cohorts who were based in Rome. Russell Robinson, that monuments erected in Rome used a formalised Greek style rather than being based on actual equipment currently in use by front-line troops. There is a suspicion amongst several military researchers, such as H. The workmanship on these monuments and indeed the amount of weathering vary considerably but the better known examples such as Trajan's column may not be the best primary source for the type of helmets used at any given period of the Roman Empire. Many sculptures have been found showing the Roman army in operation as well as individual memorial monuments to soldiers.
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