Roman soldier’s FACE MASK dating back 1,800 years uncovered in Turkey

Kane Khanh | Archeaology
October 26, 2023

An iron face mask that would have been worn by an accomplished member of the Roman cavalry some 1,800 years ago has been unearthed in northern central Turkey.

The find was made during excavations of a fortified structure in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in Paphlagonia, near modern-day Eskipazar, in Karabük Province.

Archaeologists from nearby Karabük University said that the finds indicate the influence of the Roman Empire in the region during the early 3rd century AD.

An iron face mask (pictured) that would have been worn by an accomplished member of the Roman cavalry some 1,800 years ago has been unearthed in northern central Turkey

The find was made during excavations of a fortified structure in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in Paphlagonia (pictured), near modern-day Eskipazar, in Karabük Province

Archaeologists from nearby Karabük University said that the finds indicate the influence of the Roman Empire in the region during the early 3rd century AD. Pictured: the iron mask

The city of Hadrianopolis — also known by the names Caesarea and Proseilemmene — is thought to have been inhabited from the 1st century BC to the 8th century AD. Pictured: an archaeologist painstakingly uncovers the ruins of a building from ancient Hadrianopolis

HADRIANOPOLIS

Archaeologists have been excavating the ruins of Hadrianopolis since 2003.

The ancient city is famous for the mosaics found on the floors of its two churches, within comparisons draw to the mosaics of Zeugma, to the south.

Hadrianopolis’ mosaics depict images of major rivers — including the Tigris and Euphrates — as well as animals.

The city is also notable as the birthplaces of two saints: Alypios the Stylite and Stylianos of Paphlagonia.

The city of Hadrianopolis — also known by the names Caesarea and Proseilemmene — is thought to have been inhabited from the 1st century BC to the 8th century AD.

Archaeologists have been excavating the site since 2003, having uncovered 14 structures including two baths, two churches, a theatre, rock tombs, a monumental niche, a villa and the square, fortified building in which the cavalry mask was found.

‘We guess from the fortification wall in the building that this is a military structure. An iron mask was uncovered during excavations here,’ lead archaeologist Ersin Çelikbaş of Karabük University told Gazete Global.

‘The history of the inner regions of the Western Black Sea Region has not been fully elucidated yet,’ Dr Çelikbaş continued.

‘We continue to illuminate the history of the region with our studies.

‘During our excavations, we reached important data showing the existence of the Roman Empire in the region.’

Archaeologists have been excavating the Hadrianopolis site since 2003, having uncovered 14 structures including two baths, two churches, a theatre, rock tombs, a monumental niche, a villa and the square, fortified building (pictured) in which the cavalry mask was found

‘We guess from the fortification wall in the building that this is a military structure. An iron mask was uncovered during excavations here,’ lead archaeologist Ersin Çelikbaş of Karabük University told Gazete Global. Pictured: the iron mask

‘The history of the inner regions of the Western Black Sea Region has not been fully elucidated yet,’ Dr Çelikbaş (pictured here with the mask) continued. ‘We continue to illuminate the history of the region with our studies’

‘During our excavations, we reached important data showing the existence of the Roman Empire in the region,’ Dr Çelikbaş said. Pictured: archaeologists excavating the site

According to the archaeological team, it is likely that a Roman garrison held a military base in Hadrianopolis — a hypothesis supported in part by the find of the Roman mask pictured

According to the archaeological team, it is likely that a Roman garrison held a military base in Hadrianopolis.

‘Rome planned to make its defence at the far end [of its empire] by building bases against all kinds of dangers that may come from the Black Sea Region to its territory,’ Dr Çelikbaş explained.

‘We think that Hadrianopolis is one of these defensive military cities.

‘The [mask] belongs to the imperial period. It is very likely — when we look at similar examples and [the stratigraphic location of the find] — from the 3rd century AD.’

Excavations are to continue at the Hadrianopolis site. According to the archaeologists, small finds will be taken to museums in the surrounding provinces, while larger, immovable discoveries will be preserved where they were unearthed.

‘Rome planned to make its defence at the far end [of its empire] by building bases against all kinds of dangers that may come from the Black Sea Region to its territory,’ Dr Çelikbaş explained. Pictured: the archaeologists work at the Hadrianopolis site

‘We think that Hadrianopolis [pictured] is one of these defensive military cities,’ Dr Çelikbaş continued

‘The [mask] belongs to the imperial period. It is very likely — when we look at similar examples and [the stratigraphic location of the find] — from the 3rd century AD,’ said Dr Çelikbaş. Pictured: Dr Çelikbaş and his colleagues undertaking excavations at the dig site

The find was made during excavations of a fortified structure in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in Paphlagonia, near modern-day Eskipazar, in Karabük Province

ROMAN CAVALRY HELMETS

Pictured: the Nijmegen Helmet, as seen on display in the Valkhof Museum, Nijmegen

Roman cavalry helmets would have been worn — rather than in battle — during cavalry sports (‘hippika gymnasia’) exercises.

These events, were held by the Roman cavalry to both practice their skills on horseback but also to display their expertise.

The helmets consisted of three parts — a face mask, a brow band, and ear and neck guards on either side.

One of the most famous and well-preserved example is the so-called ‘Nijmegen Helmet’, which was found near the Dutch city of the same name in 1915, on the bank of the Waal river.

According to the Greek historian and military commander Arrian, riders in the hippika gymnasia, ‘according to rank or because they distinguish themselves in horsemanship, set off with golden helmets of iron or bronze, in order to attract the attention of onlookers by this means.

‘Unlike battle helmets, these defend not only the head and cheeks but, conforming to the faces of the riders, have openings for the eyes which do not hinder the vision and yet offer protection.’

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