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Crest of a helmet? The modern reconstruction is based on the large bronze crest uncovered by British archaeologist James L. Starkey in his excavations at Lachish during the 1930s. Remnants of cloth, leather fastenings and rivets still adhered to the crest when it was uncovered between the city gate and the southwest corner of the mound.

Ussishkin suggests that this crest was originally mounted on the helmet of a fallen Assyrian soldier. Another theory is that it was part of the elaborate trappings of a chariot horse. To weigh the merits of these two theories for yourself, see the soldiers and chariots depicted in the reliefs.