Tag: Aeneas

While elite Roman men were often seen without hats, women and those of certain social statuses frequently had their heads covered while in public. Often Mithras was depicted in the center, slaying a bull. Early Christians don’t appear to have had as much affinity for the Phrygian cap as the followers of Mithras did—at least at first. However, Christian art did continue to use the Phrygian cap as a way of indicating the eastern identity of certain figures. At various times, the hat was used as a collective symbol of freedom beyond just manumission of individuals. Crowds could rejoice in their freedom from an oppressive emperor by donning the freedman’s cap. In 1765, in the lead-up to the American Revolution, the liberty cap again made an appearance, this time within the context of the fight against the British. It came into vogue in 1789 and 1790 as a symbol of liberty during the French Revolution. Freedom from monarchy was the objective of a number of popular coups within the 18th century, but it is notable that other freedom movements also donned the cap. Taking a look around, it is clear that the alternate symbolism of orientalism and freedom encapsulated by ancient Phrygian headwear and then the red freedom cap has not completely disappeared from society.