Helmet (Khula Khud)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Despite the modernization of Iran’s military in the nineteenth century, traditional armor continued to be manufactured. Its purpose, however, is uncertain: for military parades, as costume for religious or historical plays, or as romantic souvenirs for the tourist trade. This helmet, with its feline face and horns, features imagery inspired by Iran’s national epic, the Shahnama (Book of Kings)—notably, the tiger-skin headdress and the horned ox-headed mace that were the distinguishing arms of the hero Rustam. Inscriptions in Persian refer to Rustam and several other heroes from the poem.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art