Godae Geuriseu Cheongdong Tugu

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.904

Category

Craft

Designated year

1987

Location

용산구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 용산구 서빙고로 137 (용산동6가, 국립중앙박물관)

Coordinates

37.524041, 126.980350

This ancient Greek bronze helmet was bestowed as a victory memento to marathoner Sohn Kee-chung when he won the gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games held in Berlin. This 21.5 cm tall helmet was made in Corinth, Greece around the 6th century BC and was excavated in Olympia by a German archeologist in 1875. It was designed such that the eyes and the mouth would be exposed and the nose would be covered from the ridge to the tip when worn over the head. In addition, it would protect the back of the head all the way down to the neck. Since there are several holes for string along the outline of the area where the part cut off to expose the eyes and the mouth and the neck area meet, the helmet seems to have been originally designed to have an inner lining to provide a buffer effect when it is worn over the head. Although it was supposed to be given to the winner of the men’s marathon at the 11th Summer Olympics in Berlin, the helmet was not awarded to Sohn Kee-chung but had been kept at Berlin Museum until it was returned to its true owner through the mediation of a Greek newspaper company.

Location