Helmet inspired by the iconography of the Alexander Romance
The helmet is based on the iconography of medieval illustrations from the manuscript Romance of Alexander (Bodleian Library MS. Bodl. 264, pt. I), originating from Flanders, Tournai, dated to 1338–1344, and preserved in the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. The manuscript is written in Old French, with authors including Lambert le Tort and Alexandre de Bernai.
The manuscript presents the legend of Alexander the Great and his army as a combination of literary text and illustrations. The illustrations are 14th-century medieval miniatures, meaning that the artists depict the characters not as they would have appeared in antiquity, but in accordance with the medieval concept of knighthood.
As a result, Alexander and his soldiers in the miniatures wear helmets, armor, and shields typical of 14th-century Europe, rather than those of ancient Macedonia. Particularly characteristic are helmets with visors featuring cross-shaped lattices, which in the iconography serve both decorative and practical functions, illustrating how knights were imagined to protect the face in medieval artistic representations.
It is important to emphasize that such helmets did not exist historically in Alexander’s time. They are solely the result of a medieval interpretation of his army—an artistic chivalric vision in which elements such as the cross-shaped visor symbolized knighthood and courage. The miniatures do not document authentic ancient armor, but instead create a clear and visually striking medieval vision of Alexander’s forces, understandable and appealing to a 14th-century audience.
The helmet features a visor with a decorative cross and bars in the eye openings, directly inspired by these illustrations. The cross on the visor can be made of brass. The helmet is made of C45 steel with a thickness of 2 mm.
