Rhiannon Hendricks
The wedding dress of ancient Rome was a simple, one-piece, white or off-white tunic made of a muslin-like material. It was tied at the waist with a girdle, known as the 'knot of Hercules', which symbolised the bride's purity and could only be untied by her husband on their wedding night. The veil, known as the 'flammeum', was yellow-red in colour and symbolised faithfulness and fertility. Brides in ancient Rome would also wear garlands of flowers in their hair, picked fresh from their parents' garden.
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What You'll Learn
- The bride's dress was a plain, white or off-white tunic, tied with a girdle
- The bride's veil was flame-coloured, known as a 'flammeum'
- The bride wore flowers in her hair, picked from her parents' garden
- The bride's hair was styled with six tresses, called 'sex crines'
- The bride's shoes were saffron-coloured and matched her veil
The bride's dress was a plain, white or off-white tunic, tied with a girdle
The bridal dress in ancient Rome was a simple, plain garment. The bride's dress was typically a white or off-white tunic, known as the 'tunica recta', which covered her body from head to toe. The dress was made of a muslin-like material, or wool, and was tied at the waist with a girdle. The girdle, or belt, was an important part of bridal etiquette, symbolising the bride's purity. The knot, known as the 'knot of Hercules', was tied by the bride's mother on the morning of the wedding and could only be untied by the groom during the ceremony.
The bride's tunic was likely to have been woven by the bride herself, showcasing her skill at weaving. The dress was also sometimes referred to as a stola, a sleeveless garment with ornamental shoulder pads, which was worn over a lighter tunic. The stola became a symbol of female virtue, as it covered a woman's body with heavy fabric.
The bride's outfit was completed with a veil, known as the flammeum, which was flame-coloured or red and yellow. The veil was held in place by a garland of flowers, which the bride picked from her parents' garden on the morning of the wedding. The flammeum was a staple of bridal attire, with literary references to the veil found in Catullus and Martial.
The bride's hair was also an important part of the ceremony. Her hairstyle was intricate, with flowers and a crown of leaves, typically from a Crepe Myrtle bush. Her hair was styled in six tresses, known as 'sex crines'.
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The bride's veil was flame-coloured, known as a 'flammeum'
The Roman wedding dress was a simple, one-piece tunic made of a muslin-like material, in white or off-white. The dress was usually accompanied by a flame-coloured veil, known as a 'flammeum', which symbolised faithfulness and fertility. The veil was held in place by a garland of flowers, picked by the bride herself from her parents' garden.
The flammeum was a staple of the bridal hairstyle in ancient Rome. The Roman author Catullus uses the term 'flammeum' to refer to both the covering and the bride. In Catullus 61, he writes: "Raise high, O boys, the torches: I see the gleaming veil approach". In the Epigrams of Martial, the author uses the weaving of the flammeum as shorthand for the entire wedding ceremony, stating: "The veils are a-weaving for your fiancée, the girl is already being dressed".
The colour of the flammeum is described as yellow-red, or saffron. The veil was one of the only elements of colour in the bridal outfit, along with the bride's shoes, which were also saffron-coloured. The flammeum was likely displayed within the house before the wedding to signal that the ceremony was imminent.
The bridal veil was an important part of the wedding ceremony, and the custom of the bride wearing a veil has survived in modern western wedding traditions.
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The bride wore flowers in her hair, picked from her parents' garden
The bride's hair was a focal point at Roman weddings. Custom dictated that she would rise early on her wedding day to pick flowers from her parents' garden. She would then weave these flowers into a garland to sit atop her intricate hairstyle, holding her veil in place. The veil, known as the flammeum, was a staple of Roman bridalwear, symbolising faithfulness and fertility. It was typically red or yellow, or flame-coloured.
The bride's dress was plain by modern standards, a white or off-white one-piece tunic made of a muslin-like material, covering her from head to foot. It was tied at the waist with a girdle, using the 'knot of Hercules', a symbol of virginity. The knot was tied by the bride's mother and could only be untied by the groom. The tunic was sometimes called a stola, a sleeveless garment with ornamental shoulder pads and a belt around the hips. It was made of heavy fabric and was a symbol of female virtue, as it covered the wearer's body completely.
The bride's look was completed with a bouquet of herbs, which she would have picked herself. It is thought that the flowers and herbs were chosen to represent fidelity and fertility, rather than to mask the smell of everyday Roman life. The bouquet often included marjoram, symbolising love, honour and joy; rosemary for fidelity; lavender for devotion; sage for a long life; and myrtle for fertility and purity.
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The bride's hair was styled with six tresses, called 'sex crines'
In ancient Rome, the bride's hair was a focal point of the wedding. The bridal hairstyle, known as the 'tutulus', was unique to brides and was not worn by anyone else. The hairstyle was comprised of six locks of hair, called sex crines, which were divided using a spearhead, possibly to ward off evil spirits. The locks were then curled and coiled on top of the bride's head, with a few tendrils left to frame her face and neck.
The hairstyle was also known as senibus crinibus, an inflected form of sex crines or seni crines. The latter term likely refers to the numeral "six", indicating that the hairstyle consisted of six locks of hair. This number may have corresponded to the number of vestal virgins, who were considered symbols of purity and chastity. Vestal virgins wore short hair, and brides may have adopted this hairstyle to symbolise a transition from girlhood to adulthood.
The bride's hair was adorned with a garland of flowers, which she picked from her parents' garden and wove herself. This garland held her veil in place. The veil, known as the flammeum, was flame-coloured, symbolising faithfulness and fertility. It was believed to protect the bride from evil spirits and was considered an essential part of the bridal hairstyle.
In ancient Rome, a bride's hair was more than just a style choice. It was a way to express her individuality and showcase her status and role in society. The complexity of her hairstyle also displayed her wealth, as only those with means could afford to spend time on elaborate grooming rituals. Thus, the bride's hair, styled with six tresses, was a significant and symbolic aspect of Roman weddings.
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The bride's shoes were saffron-coloured and matched her veil
In ancient Rome, bridal fashion was simple, and the bride's dress was no exception. The traditional Roman wedding dress consisted of a plain white woollen tunica recta, overlaid by a white stola. The tunica recta was a one-piece, unfitted tunic made of muslin-like material, covering the bride from head to foot and tied at the waist with a girdle. The stola was a sleeveless garment made of heavy fabric, featuring many folds, ornamental shoulder pads, and a belt around the hips. It was a symbol of female virtue as it completely covered women's bodies.
The bride's head and face were covered by a veil, flowers, and a crown of leaves, typically from a Crepe Myrtle bush. The veil, known as the flammeum, was flame-coloured, symbolising faithfulness and fertility. The colour saffron was also associated with the Roman god Hymen, who was portrayed wearing a saffron-coloured palla, a type of Roman cloak worn by women.
The hairstyle and headdress were also focal points at ancient Roman weddings. The bride's hair was intricately styled, with flowers woven into a garland that held her veil in place. This hairstyle was considered distinct and was made up of six tresses called sex crines. The bride's mother and female friends attended her on the morning of her wedding, helping her prepare and sharing in the excitement of the approaching ceremony.
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Frequently asked questions
The traditional Roman wedding dress was a plain white or off-white one-piece tunic called a tunica recta. It was made of wool, a lucky fabric that repelled evil, and was tied at the waist with a girdle or belt, known as a zona, using the 'knot of Hercules' to symbolise purity and to ward off evil. The tunica recta was often covered with a white stola, a sleeveless dress with many folds, ornamental shoulder pads, and a belt around the hips.
The bride's veil was flame-coloured, known as the flammeum, and symbolised faithfulness and fertility. It covered the bride's head and was accompanied by a flora headdress of traditional, lucky flowers and herbs such as marjoram, lavender, rosemary, sage, and myrtle.
Brides wore saffron-coloured shoes, usually simple sandals, which matched their veil. Their hair was simply dressed and parted with an iron spear to ward off evil. Jewellery was kept simple and unobtrusive, with pendant earrings and necklaces being favourite pieces.
