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Ancient helmets found alongside archaic ruins in the Acropolis of Elea-Velia

Archaeologists excavating the Acropolis of Elea-Velia in the Cilento region of Italy have uncovered ancient helmets alongside archaic ruins.

Elea-Velia was founded by Greeks from Phocaea during the 6th century BC, emerging as a major centre in the Roman region of Magna Graecia during the 3rd century BC.

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Excavations were conducted under the direction of Gabriel Zuchtriegel to determine the organisation of structures within the Acropolis and their chronology.

The researchers focused on the highest terrace of the western tip, where they uncovered the existence of an archaic sacred building from around 540-530 BC that measures 18 metres long by 7 metres wide.

The structure is paved with a beaten earth floor and tiles, on which archaeologists found painted ceramics and inscribed vases, along with a number of metal fragments and pieces of weapons and armour.

helmet2
Header Image Credit : Parco Archeologico Paestum

Amongst the remains are two helmets, one of the Chalcidian type which was common amongst Hellenistic soldiers in the Greek (southern) parts of Italy, and a Negau type helmet that is of a typical Etruscan ‘vetulonic’ shape.

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Massimo Osanna , Director General of the Museums and Avocant Director of the
Archaeological Park of Paestum and Velia said: “The archaeological finds at the Acropolis of Elea-Velia suggest a sacred destination of the structure. In all likelihood, the relics found were offered to the goddess Athena after the Battle of Alalia (a naval battle that took place between 540 BC and 535 BC off the coast of Corsica between Greeks and the allied Etruscans and Carthaginians).”

ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF PAESTUM

Header Image Credit : Parco Archeologico Paestum

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Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan
Mark Milligan is a multi-award-winning journalist and the Managing Editor at HeritageDaily. His background is in archaeology and computer science, having written over 8,000 articles across several online publications. Mark is a member of the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW), the World Federation of Science Journalists, and in 2023 was the recipient of the British Citizen Award for Education, the BCA Medal of Honour, and the UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award.
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