Exploring Islamic Art: helmets

We have some wonderful objects at Hull and East Riding Museum, including two beautiful kulah khud.  These helmets were worn by Persian Empire soldiers in either the 18^th or 19^th century.

Helmet with hunting scene:
(c) Hull and East Riding Museum: Hull Museums

So, let’s start with a little bit of background.  The Persian Empire is the name given to the sovereign state which ruled over several nations (spanning modern day Middle East and parts of North Africa).  The Empire dates back to the 6^th century BC with the first ruling family (or dynasty), the Achaemenids established by Cyrus the Great.  The territories within the Persian Empire shifted throughout time, with warfare and the changing reigns of different rulers and dynasties however Iran (also known as Persia) remained at the political centre throughout.  The helmets in our collection date to the Qajar dynasty (1796 – 1925) which was the final dynasty to rule the Persian Empire.

Kulah khud have their origins in Central Asia.  They are bowl shaped helmets, often with an aventail (chainmail neck covering), a spike at the top, an adjustable nose guard and plume holders to hold feathers.  The decoration on kulah khud reflected the culture that made them, so there is a wide variety in designs.

The decoration on the helmets in our collection suggest they are Persian, and probably from Iran.  Both are made from steel and beautifully decorated in silver and gold.

Detail on reverse of 'hunting scene' kulah khud
(c) Hull and East Riding Museum: Hull Museums

One shows a hunting scene, with hunters hunting lions and deer.  Some of the hunters are on horseback and others are on foot.  They are using a variety of weapons including long spears and shamshirs (a Middle Eastern curved sword).  You can see artwork similar to this in Persian manuscripts and illustrations.

'demon' kulah khud
(c) Hull and East Riding Museum:
Hull Museums

The other helmet depicts Div e-Sepid (the white demon).  This demon is a character in the Shahnameh (‘The Book of Kings’), a national epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi.  It was written in the 10^th century AD, and tells the mythical and historical past of the Persian Empire from the creation of the world until the Arab conquest of Iran in the 7^th century.  This helmet takes inspiration from one of the stories in the poem.

Detail on the side of the 'demon' helmet
(c) Hull and East Riding Museum: Hull Museums

Div e-Sepid was the ruler of all demons in Mazandaran.  He was very strong and could perform sorcery.  He blinds King Kay Kavus and takes him prisoner.  The Persian hero, Rostam rescues the King by defeating Div e-Sepid in a very bloody fight.  Rostam uses the heart and blood of the White Demon to cure the king’s blindness and then uses the demon’s head as a helmet.  The helmet in our collection represents the head of the White Demon and Rostam’s helmet.

If you’d like to get a closer look at the kulah khud, they will be on display at Hull and East Riding Museum from Monday 10^th February – Sunday 29^th March 2020.