The Corinthian helmet is clearly the most characteristic type of ancient Greek helmet and was widely used from the late 8th c. BC until the end of the Classical period. Its name, which is ancient (Herodotus IV, 180), obviously denotes the place of origin of the type, even though similar helmets were made all over Greece. The Corinthian helmet was a significant innovation in ancient metalworking, since it was the first to be fashioned from a single sheet of bronze and effectively protected every part of the head (earlier types were made from various parts soldered together and left the face exposed). Its appearance coincides with the establishment of the institution of the hoplite (foot-soldier) and the creation of the military phalanx, which radically transformed the tactics of warfare. Most surviving helmets come from graves or from sanctuaries (like the illustrated examples), where they were frequently dedicated by warriors after a victorious battle.