Roman Headdresses

Roman Headdresses could be split and read as ‘hair dresses' in order to know the meaning. Romans always had taste in wearing dresses and looking good. In fact this flair led them to have intercourse with Greeks who were astonishingly beautiful. Due to the hot weather of Italy Romans used to wear few garments.

Roman matrons used to do head dress which some times look very absurd. They had the passion to curl their hairs and piled on high top. They also had the passion to have the curls nearby to their heads. And these were jeweled with coronets and pins. These were one of the top fashions and favorite in those days.

Juvenal reflects that the Roman headdresses of the matron were done by the female slaves or attendants and since they are not proficient enough they suffered because of the impatience of their mistress.

To maintain the hair in a lustrous condition they used the hair tonic, oil, other cosmetics, paint and powder were used in routine.

Some of the peculiar officers and dignities used to have very peculiar hair dresses so that they may be attracted in a crowd. A helmet called as ‘apex' is worn by female dialis called as priest of Jupiter and around its spike wounded a ball of cotton. On the top of the spike an olive branch is tied with the white woolen thread. If some of the officers were not able to maintain this hair dress or fall of they are supposed to resign.

Roman headdresses of the other priests wore ‘infula' which is a twisted fillet with long ribbons and they end on the neck. Even today roman boys wear white ribbons as a part of the custom during ceremonies celebrated in August which has the origin in the past history.

As rewards of certain achievements such as the first man to scale the city walls were awarded ‘corona muralis'. And it was in the shape of battlements. Oak leaves were presented for persons who saved the life of the citizens. The first man to board the enemies' ships were awarded the ‘rostra' crown which is like a beak of gallery in the navy.

During death ceremony, to express the sign of sorrow the men were growing breads and hair. Children were allowed to wear the hair hanging and grow hair long. But boys were supposed to cut their hair as they reached the age to leave off the bulla.