Morion

Crested open helmet of the Spanish conquistadors

The morion was an open-faced helmet of the 16th-17th centuries, instantly recognizable by its tall central comb and sweeping pointed brim. Most famously associated with the Spanish conquistadors who wore it during the conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires, it became an enduring icon of the Age of Exploration. The comb reinforced the skull against downward blows while the wide brim deflected arrows and falling debris. Its open design provided excellent visibility and ventilation for prolonged campaigning, and simple construction allowed mass issue to Spanish tercio infantry.