salvation, and the hope of it, are their Helmet; they defend and render them bold and courageous in their spiritual warfare.-GURNEY.

Of all kinds of armour, a strong defence for the head was, unquestionably, the most common, and, perhaps, the most early. The shield and Helmet have, indeed, formed the only defensive armour of some nations. When men began to feel the need of a defence for the head in war, they seemed, in the first instance, merely to have given a stronger make to the caps which they usually wore. Such caps were at first quilted, or padded with wool; then they were formed with hard leather; and ultimately of metal; in which state they gradually acquired various additions and ornaments, such as embossed figures, ridges, crests of animal figures, horsehair, feathers, etc., and also flaps to protect the neck and cheeks, and even visors to guard the face. Visors do not, however, appear to have been used by the ancient Orientals ; nor do we know any Helmet but that of the Phrygians, with a ridge, or crest. When the dress, or, at least, the war-dress, of ancient people consisted of skins, it was frequently the custom for the wearer to cover his head with the head-skin of the animal; and, long after other dress was adopted for the body, it remained the custom among several nations to wear as a war-cap, or Helmet, the skin of an animal's head, with the hair on, and, in every other respect, as like life as possible. The head-skins of

lions, wolves, horses, and other animals, sufficiently grim in their appearance, and with hides of suitable

strength, were preferred for this purpose; and the terrible effect of this head-dress was increased by the teeth being exposed, so as to appear grinning savagely at the enemy. Now, when such people began to find that more convenient war-caps might be invented, they were unwilling to forego the effect which their savage helmets produced, and, therefore, fixed the animal's head, and, ultimately, a representation of it, as conveniently as they could, to the top of their new war-cap.

Count Caylus and sir Samuel Meyrick concur in opinion, that this was the origin of crests, and the other annexations of Helmets. Even the skins of large birds and fishes were employed in the same manner; and we have thus an easy explanation, not only of the Crest, but of the erect ears, horns, wings, etc., which we see in ancient Helmets. The horsehair, which was anciently, and is still, displayed on Helmets, admits of the same explanation. It arose from the custom of wearing the head of a horse with the mane remaining, either proper, or cut short, so as to stand erect like a hog's bristles; the tail also being annexed. The Ethiopians and Libyans had horse-head Helmets; their Egyptian neighbours gave up animal heads for Helmets, but continued them as Crests; the Crest of the royal Helmet, among that people, being, according to Diodorus, the heads of the horse, lion, or dragon. Now, Herodotus says, that the Greeks borrowed their Helmets, as well as their shields, from the Egyptians. But those we have mentioned were far from being the only people who had animal-head Helmets.

Of the Hebrew Helmets, called coba, or koba, we only know that they were generally of brass ; and that the Helmet of the king was distinguished by its crown. It is, however, interesting to learn that metallic Helmets were, so far as appears, exclusively in use among them. Homer's heroes have also, generally, Helmets of brass. Whether the Hebrews had Crests to their Helmets, or not, it is impossible to say distinctly. We do not think that the crest was a characteristic of oriental Helmets; but as the royal Helmet in Egypt had a Crest, as the Helmets of Asia Minor were sometimes crested, and as, in the Trojan war, a crested Helmet was worn by the Trojans, and also, it would seem, by the Greeks, it is not unlikely that the Crest was known to the Jews. Plumes we are not to expect; they were not used in the most ancient periods, and but sparingly in later antiquity.-KITTO.

It will be seen from the above description of the Helmet of the ancients, that the Crest took its rise, in some measure, from the circumstance of retaining the horns of the animal, when the head, etc., was worn on the warrior's cap. The horn was also worn on the head, commonly by the Hebrews, and other oriental nations, as an ornament; and symbolizes glory, honour, power, brightness, and rays. The face of Moses was encompassed with horns, that is, it was radiant; or, as it were, horns of light issued from it. The principal defence and strength of many beasts are in their horns ; and hence the horn is often a symbol of strength. The Lord exalted the horn of David, and the horn of his people; he breaketh the horn of the ungodly; he

cutteth off the horn of Moab; he cutteth off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel. He promiseth to make the horn of Israel to bud forth; to re-establish its honour, and to restore its vigour. There may be an allusion in these passages, however, to a very common part of the female dress, in some parts of the east. Mr. Buckingham, describing the ornaments of a female at Tyre, says, "She wore, also, on her head, a hollow silver horn, rearing itself upwards obliquely from her forehead, being four or five inches in diameter at the root, and pointed at its extreme; and her ears, her neck, and her arms, were laden with rings, chains, and bracelets. This peculiarity reminded me very forcibly of the expression of the psalmist: "Lift not up your horn on high speak not with a stiff neck.-All the horns of the wicked will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted; similar illustrations of which, Bruce had also found in Abyssinia, in the silver horns of warriors and distinguished men.— -CALMET.

The expression "mine horn is exalted," often occurs in the Bible; and, doubtless, the reference is to the horn as a general symbol of power and glory. It is, however, remarkable that, whether this were formerly the case or not, some of the women in Syria do wear a sort of horn upon their heads. This is particularly the case among the Druses of Lebanon, speaking of whom, Dr. Carmichael observes, "One of the most extraordinary parts of the attire of their females is a silver horn, sometimes studded with jewels, worn on the head, in various

a Ps. lxxv. 5, 10.

positions, distinguishing their different conditions. A married woman has it affixed to the right side of the head, a widow on the left, and a virgin is pointed out by its being placed on the very crown over this silver projection the long veil is thrown, with which they so completely conceal their faces, as rarely to have more than one eye visible."-KITTO.

Scripture Ellustration.

THERE went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an Helmet of brass upon his head. And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host, shields, and spears, and Helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.c

For He put on righteousness as a breast-plate,
And an Helmet of salvation upon his head;

And he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing,
And was clad with zeal as a cloak.d

Order

ye

the Buckler and shield,

And draw near to battle.

Harness the horses and get up, ye horsemen,
And stand forth with your Helmets ;

Furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.e

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand-and take the Helmet of salvation.f

b 1 Sam. xvii. 4, 5.
e Jer. xlvi. 3, 4.

c 2 Chron. xxvi. 14.

d Isa. lix. 17.

f Ephes. vi, 13, 17.