petasos

{{Short description|Sun hat worn in Ancient Greece}}

File:Man wearing Petasos Coinage of Kapsa Macedon circa 400 BCE.jpg wearing a petasos. Coinage of Kapsa, Macedon, c. 400 BC]]

A petasos ({{langx|grc|πέτασος}}) or petasus (Latin) is a broad brimmed hat of Thessalian origin worn by ancient Greeks, Thracians and Etruscans,{{Cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=CILWtN-fSG8C&pg=PA68 |title=Etruscan Dress |isbn=9780801874130 |last=Bonfante |first=Larissa |author-link=Larissa Bonfante |date=2003-10-31 |publisher=JHU Press}} often in combination with the chlamys cape. It was made of wool felt, leather, straw or animal skin. Women's versions had a high crown while those for men featured a lower crown.Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "petasos". Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Jul. 2010, https://www.britannica.com/topic/petasos . Accessed 29 November 2021. It was worn primarily by farmers, travellers and hunters, and was considered characteristic of rural people. As a winged hat, it became the symbol of Hermes, the Greek mythological messenger god.Sacks, David. "clothing, ancient Greek." Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World, David Sacks, Facts On File, 3rd edition, 2015. Credo Reference. Accessed 29 Nov. 2021.

Along with the pileus, the petasos was the most common hat worn in Ancient Greece."Greek Headwear." Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear Through the Ages, edited by Sara Pendergast, et al., 2nd ed., vol. 1: The Ancient World, UXL, 2013, pp. 127-134. Gale In Context: World History. Accessed 28 Nov. 2021. Its wide brim protected the wearer from the sun and rain while a lengthy strap allowed wearers to secure it under the chin. Its popularity later extended to the Etruscans, the Byzantine Empire and the Roman Empire, in slightly modified forms."Headwear of the Byzantine Empire." Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear Through the Ages, edited by Sara Pendergast, et al., 2nd ed., vol. 2: Early Cultures Across the Globe, UXL, 2013, pp. 257-259. Gale In Context: World History. Accessed 28 Nov. 2021.

A type of metal helmet worn by Athenian cavalry was made in the shape of a petasos. Some examples have holes around the outer edge of the brim, presumably so a fabric cover could be attached. These are known from reliefs and vase paintings, with at least one archaeological example found in an Athenian tomb.{{cite book|last=Sekunda |first=Nicholas |author-link=Nicholas Sekunda |title=The Ancient Greeks |date=2005 |orig-date=1986 |publisher=Osprey |location= |page=19}}