Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2021 August 15

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August 15

Cassis versus Galea

Was there any contextual difference between the Latin words cassis and galea, or were both words synonyms for "helmet"? I remember from reading some book that cassis would mean a metal helmet and galea a leather helmet, via the quote cassis de lamina est, galea de corio ("the cassis is made out of metal plates, the galea out of leather") but Romans didn't really use leather helmets (even partially leather ones), so that could either be wrong, or galea might refer to any helmet in general; gladitorial, Germanic, or Persian or wherever it may come from, while cassis is strictly a legionary or otherwise Roman helmet, but I have no idea if this interpretation has any shred of truth or not. Perhaps they are different terms used in different time periods? Is it likely a soldier's helmet would be called galea after the Gallic style of helmet was adopted, then before the Imperial era cassis was the common word?

I've also found a quote from Tacitus who notes paucis loricae, vix uni alterive cassis aut galea ("a few have armour, only one or two have a cassis or a galea"), during a time when the German tribes were experiencing an iron shortage. Is it also true that buccula refers to a specific kind of helmet, or just a specific part of a helmet (I'm assuming cheek guards)? --72.234.12.37 (talk) 23:39, 15 August 2021 (UTC)

The use of "aut" in the Tacitus quotation (as opposed to other Latin words for "or" with slightly different meanings) suggests that the two words were not really synonymous in his mind... AnonMoos (talk) 04:59, 16 August 2021 (UTC)

This source states: Galea (from γαλέη, a cat) the helmet being originally a cap made of cat’s skin: afterwards it was made of metal. Ærea galea. Virg. Ovid has promiscuously used cassis and galea. (Ancient Greek γαλέη actually could refer to any of several kinds of small animals: weasels, martens, polecats, and so on.) The original differentiation and later interchangeability is confirmed by other sources, like e.g. here and in the same book here.  --Lambiam 10:46, 16 August 2021 (UTC)