quick question on roman metal masks...

[AceofKnaves]

I have been wondering about how the standard bearers from velites and up tend to have a wolf pelt on them and a metal mask/helmet. Was there a name for this? any known existing artifacts of this? where does this come from. Thanks for helping me!

[Nero Clavdivs Germanicvs]

These masks were common in Roman army especially signifers( standard barriers) or aquilifers (eagle barriers). This mask was also common in cavalry- we have one mask which was found in the place of battle in teutoburg forrest- they represented strenght or they had them to terrify enemies. And animal pelts- for example modern historians believe that units such as velites had them because general could recognize them easier between heavy infantry (legionares) in the chaos of battle or velites had them because they were poor young men who couldnt afford armour such as legionares had- lorica hamata for example, and they wanted to look as a strong warriors. After Marian reforms when velites disapeared from a Roman army were animal pelts common between standard barriers- because, such as velites, they wanted to look good, strong. One of theories says that pelts appeared in a Roman army in times af wars with gallic tribes and especialy germanic tribes- where served bersekers who were wearing animal pelts and soldiers in a Roman army wh had this pelts were those who killed those fearsome warriors- but this theory is only hiphotetical

[General_Meevious]

Not positive, but I don't think they had a name.

Arrian wrote a description in Greek, but seems to be long winded and avoids calling that part of the helmet anything in particular.

[daelin4]

If there was a name we'll never know. "Segmentata" armour, for example, is not the original Roman name, it was a modern designation.

Like a lot of other things in history what we discern a to the purpose to these pelts is just guesswork. In terms of battlefield considerations it does serve as easy visual distinctions, and for the person wearing it may at least have SOME degree of appearing more intimidating.