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The helmets from the Vendel period are perhaps the most impressive grave goods from these burials. Greta Arwidsson traces their origin to the late Roman period:

“The helmets which are part of the epoch’s most splendid equipment have long been called Vendel helmets as a type. It seems certain that they must be Nordic work but it would be interesting to know where and when the type, originating perhaps in Roman gladiatorial helmets, appeared in the north. It is possible to see on the Vendel helmets details which are found on the late Roman crested helmets: for example, the termination of the crest with an eagle’s head, or with both eagles’ and boars’ heads and which may also be combined with pictures of dragons. The helmets with a markedly low crest, adorned with embossed silver foil and set with rivets with decorated domed heads, make other comparisons possible.”

(“Valsgärde”, Greta Arwidsson in “Vendel Period Studies”, (ed) J.P. Lamm & H.Å Nordström, Statens Historiska Museum, Stockholm 1983, p. 77)

Click on the images to enlarge

Helmet from Valsgärde VII
image: Scandinavian Archaeology

Helmet from Vendel Grave I
image: Beforeitsnews.com

Helmet from Vendel Grave XIV
image: Pinterest.com

Helmet from Vendel Grave XIV
image: Pinterest.com

Helmet from Valsgärde Grave V
image: Pinterest.com

Helmet Plate Matrix from Torslunda
image: Wikimedia

Helmet Plate Matrix from Torslunda
image: Wikimedia

“Dancing Warriors” Helmet Plate from Sutton Hoo
image: vikingrune.com

Helmet Plate from Valsgärde Grave VII
image: vikingrune.com

Greta Arwidsson comments on the motifs from these plates:

“The very limited repertory of figural motifs (only 8 different motifs are know from helmets and from the matrices from Torslunda on Ölund) and the stereotyped designs but skilful composition convince me that the motifs on the foils also originally arose as copies of late Roman illustrations and that they came to the north with the helmet type. … The figures on the excavated helmets and the matrices suggest that they were produced by craftsmen who changed the details in order to depict the weapons in use in their own times.”

(“Valsgärde”, Greta Arwidsson in “Vendel Period Studies”, (ed) J.P. Lamm & H.Å Nordström, Statens Historiska Museum, Stockholm 1983, p. 77)

“Fallen Warrior” Helmet Plate Valsgärde grave VII
image: Pinterest.com

“Fallen Warrior” Helmet Plate Valsgärde grave VIII
image: Pinterest.com

“Fallen Warrior” Helmet Plate Sutton Hoo Ship Burial
image: Wikimedia

Embossed Disc from Pliezhausen
image: Landesmuseum Württemberg

This distinctive form of helmet also appears on the two Valsgärde examples of the “Fallen Warrior” motive. This motive derives from a popular theme found on Roman officers’ gravestone, where the officer is seen mounted on horseback and riding down a native warrior (for example, the Tombstone of Longinus Sdapeze a junior cavalry officer who was stationed at Camulodunum).

The original Roman motif has been adapted to show a spear-carrying mounted warrior riding down a fallen warrior. The fallen warrior is plunging his sword into the horse, and a small figure can be seen guiding the spear of the mounted warrior. This figure is usually seen as a depiction of the War God Othin, or Woden, guiding the spear of one of his chosen warriors. In the examples from Valsgärde VII and VIII the War God is wearing one of these distinctive helmets.
The “Fallen Warrior” motive is known from other Germanic contexts of this period. A similar scene is depicted on one of the plates from the Sutton Hoo Helmet, and an embossed metal disk from Pliezhausen, Germany also carries a similar motive.