The Waterloo Helmet

The water flowing under Waterloo Bridge from the River Thames was filthy. Following the great stink of the 1840s, the Goverment were aware waste and pollution into the water was a grave concern. Particularly as the fumes from the stench polluted the otherwise fragrant air of the Parliamentary Estate. To that end, in 1868, the river was dredged; this would make the area more navigable and less… offensive to the olfactory senses. In the filth and the slime a worker spotted something glinting in the Sun, grabbed it and took it to one of them there learn’d types, who cleaned it up. This was to become known as The Waterloo Helmet. The Helmet resembled the stereotypical image of a Viking helmet with two horns protruding. The actual historical portrayal of the Viking helmet comes from imagination, not from fact. It was a legend to engender fear of the Vikings by ancient peoples; after all, in most cultures, angry people bearing swords charging towards you with horns on their heads cannot be said to be a positive sign. The Helmet is made from bronze sheets riveted together and decorated with a flowing, hammered pattern. From the materials and the way it is decorated, it can be dated back to around 150-50 BC. The helmet is small and offers little protection; it’s fragile structure means even a light blow would render it more a hindrance than a protection. It is thought to be a offering to the water deities, but now rests easily, with much less flotsam, in the British Museum. The Helmet

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