Dark corroded lead figurine of a helmeted warrior holding a round shield with a spoked wheel pattern, on a pale background.

Lead figure of a warrior with a helmet and shield

A small corroded lead figure of a helmeted warrior, shown frontally with a large round shield held before the body. The shield bears a radiating spoked pattern around a central boss. The surface is pitted and grey-black, and the legs are short and rough, suggesting a votive or toy figure.

Look closer: The helmet's crest and cheek-piece are the faintest part of the figure and blend into the grey background.

Artist: Unknown
Date: 6th–5th century BCE
Medium: Lead
Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Size: 3000 × 4000 px

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Public domain · The Metropolitan Museum of Art releases this image under CC0 (latest date -400).
Rights checked 2026-11-05 · tier A · as stated by the source: CC0 (The Met Open Access, isPublicDomain=true)

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of A. J. B. Wace, 1924

shield helmet warrior votive figure ancient greek laconian lead figurine archaic bronze age metalwork corroded metal