Ancient Worlds - BBC Two Episode 1 “Come Together”The gold helmet of Meskalamdug (c. 240

Ancient Worlds - BBC Two

Episode 1 “Come Together”

Thegold helmet of Meskalamdug (c. 2400 BC)

The helmet was found in the Royal Tombs of Ur, in PG 755 by the British archaeologist Leonard Woolley. It belongs to the early dynastic period, the first Dinasty of Ur.

King Meskalamdug was not mentioned on the Sumerian king but his son, Mesannepada was the first king listed. Many of the artifacts found in tomb PG 755 bear the name of Meskalamdug but the cylinder seal of Meskalamdug was found in a larger tomb (PG 1054). Woolley believed that the smaller tomb was not the tomb of king Meskalamdug, but it perhaps belonged to his grandson, an elite, but not necessarily a king. The distinctive helmet was the kind of helmet usually worn by lords and kings and it had a ceremonial purpose.

The helmet was made from a single piece of gold and fashioned to look like hair. In the back of the helmet there is a small hollow bump, used to hold the hair of its owner (in a bun) and it has holes in the ears.

The helmet on the picture (British Museum) is an electrotype copy of the original helmet -which was in Baghdad, in the National Museum of Iraq.

The British Museum, London, UK