How did ancient Greek and Roman warriors use frightening masks in battle?

Ancient Greek and Roman warriors utilized frightening masks as a form of psychological warfare to instill fear in their enemies and demoralize them during combat.12

Rather than wearing these masks directly on their faces in the manner of a modern costume, these warriors incorporated them into their military equipment in the following ways:

• Battle Shields: Warriors often decorated their shields with grotesque or terrifying imagery, such as Gorgon masks, to present a menacing appearance to the opposing side.1
• Armor Attachments: Terrifying masks were sometimes physically attached to pieces of armour to create a malevolent or hideously fantastic expression.1
• Helmets: To protect their faces during sports events and tournaments of arms, Roman cavalrymen attached highly decorative and symbolic masks to their helmets.1

These practices reflect the long-standing military tradition of using "war masks" to project power and intimidate adversaries through visual displays of ferocity.1