The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c10.417

v1.c10.417

**Armour for the head:** Defensive armour for the head has nowhere been noticed in Orissa. The heads of warriors are either left with their natural covering of hair, or bound round with turbans, or surmounted with high, ornamented caps. This is remarkable considering that even in the early days of the *Ṛgveda* helmets²⁰² were greatly prized; and in the *Rāmāyaṇa* and the *Mahābhārata* much praise is bestowed on those who succeeded [ 125 ] in cleaving the helmets (*kirīṭa*) of their adversaries. During the middle ages, the Marhattas used very extensively iron casques with neck-guard, cheek flaps, and moveable nose-pieces; and in the poems of Cand the helmet is frequently mentioned.