Hats & Hoods (Men)
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More Men's Clothing pages
Conical hat
The most typical depiction of head wear in the Viking Age as that of a simple cone [EWING 2007:p.117].
Art
- England
- Middleton Cross [EWING 2007:p.118]
- Kirklrvington [EWING 2007:p.118]
- Iceland
- Akureyi. Bronze figurine of Thor [EWING 2007:p.118]
- Sweden
- Rallinge. Freya figurine [EWING 2007:p.118]
- Gotland
- Larbro Tangelgarde and Sanda [EWING 2007:p.117]
Literature
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Archaeology
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Discussion
Although it is not possible to determine if the depictions are meant to be helmets or hats Ewing seems to think that it is more 'plausible' that they depict hats [EWING 2007:p.118].
Croom states that in the Roman period the brimless conical hat was known as the 'freedman's cap' or pilleus. In the 1st and 2nd centuries and possibly for longer it was worn by freed slaves to show their improved status. It was also worn on special ceremonies such as funerals or festivals. [CROOM 2000:p.69]
Pillbox cap
Art
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Literature
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Archaeology
- Netherlands (600-900AD)
- Leens. Two hats were found in Leens. Hat 2 is a pillbox cap. It is made from several pieces of the same diamond twill. It has decorative stitches along the seams. [BRANDENBURGH 2009:p.68]
Discussion
This style of hat was adopted by Roman soldiers from the late 3rd century. Roman pill-box caps could be made from sheepskin, fur as well as possibly from leather. Vegetius writing in the 4th century refers to a pannonian which is probably a pill-box hat. It may also be that a padded type of this hat was used under a soldiers helmet for padding. The pill-box cap became a symbol of the Roman soldier in much the same manner as the Roman military belt and as such was not work by the non-military. [CROOM 2000:p.69]
Forage style cap
Art
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Literature
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Archaeology
- Netherlands,4 hats dated to the period 700-1000AD have been identified from the Netherlands by Brandenburgh [BRANDENBURGH 2009].
- Oostrum (700-900AD): The hat was made from natural white wool which was dyed a light red woven in diamond twill, the decorative stitching was in darker red thread. This hat is similar in shape to the one from Aalsum, being close fitting and extending downwards over ears and back of the neck. [BRANDENBURGH 2009:p.69]
- Aalsum (500-900AD): This hat is made out of four pieces of different diamond twills. The hat sits close to the head and extends downwards over the ears and the back of the neck. [BRANDENBURGH 2009:p.66]
- Leens. Two hats were found in Leens. Hat 1 is a cap with and extension down the back of the neck. It is made from 3 pieces of different diamond twills. [BRANDENBURGH 2009:p.68]
- Rasquert (800-900AD): This hat is made of fine diamond twill. The cap is similar to hat 1 from Leens being close fitting and extending down the back of the neck. [BRANDENBURGH 2009:p.69]
Discussion
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Naalbound hats
Art
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Literature
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Archaeology
- The hat of St. Symeon 1035AD. A naalbound hat that belonged to the saint and became a reliquary, to cure headaches, after his death. It was made of natural brown sheeps wool. Now in the Domschatz in Trier, Germany. [HEYEN 2002: p.493]
- The hat of St. Bernard of Clarivaux 1152AD. A probably naalbound hat belong to St. Bernard, now kept as a reliquary in a church in Niederwerth, Germany. http://www.bildindex.de/obj20599844.html#
Discussion
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Straw hats
A hat made from plaitted straw, reeds, willow, bast or other vegetable matter.
Art
- There is apparently an Anglo-Saxon manuscript that shows a straw hat but we have been unable to find it.
- A later example can be found in Eadwine Psalter, Cambs. Trinity College MS R.17.1 f.?? c.1147AD
Literature
- Odin is described as wearing as wearing a broad-brimmed hat in ??????? Saga. This may refer to a straw hat.
Archaeology
- Russia, Novgorod. A hat made of roots 'in the manner of a rush hat' and 'shaped like a straw hat' [EWING 2007:p.120] This hat does however date to the 14th C, which is a bit late for evidence of straw hats in the viking age. http://historic.ru/books/item/f00/s00/z0000170/st025.shtml
Discussion
Croom states that during the Roman period that wide brimmed straw hats were worn by fishermen and sailors as protection from the sun. He also mentions that the same style of hat was also worn by theater goers when the wind was too strong for the awnings to be used. [CROOM 2000:p.69]
Inwards describes the early origins of straw hats. He suggests that the Roman word Petasus and the Greek word Kausia could both refer to broad-brimmed hats. The figure from the Parthenon frieze (c.450BC) could show such a hat as could an Etruscan figure on an earthenware dish found in a tomb at Vulci (c.440BC). Two paintings from Pompeii show hats and bonnets as does a figure of Penelope (79AD). Also a 2nd century Roman figure of Mercury at the Vatican. Virgil writing in ???? mentions the "Plaitting of osiers and willows" in his Pastorals. The earliest British record of straw hats is 1459AD and refers to Sir John Fastolfe's "ij Strawen hattes". [INWARDS 1922:p.1]
It is very unlikely that any straw item would survive to be found. Always on poor people. This kind of hat was depicted in use during the Roman period and again in the C12th. It is likely that such a simple hat was in use by common agricultural workers throughout the Viking Age.
Skull Caps
A brimless tight-fitting cap.
Art
- Bayeux Tapestry Boat Builder [WILSON 1985]
Literature
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Archaeology
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Discussion
Phrygian caps
Birka style hats
... with a fur rim
Art
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Literature
- Ibn Fadlan's Account of the Rus (c.921AD) “They put a hat of brocade and fur on him [The dead chieftain]”
- Njals saga and Ljosvetninga saga. Both mention a 'Russian hat' or gerzkr hattr being given as Kings gifts. Ewing suggests that these may have been similar to the hat described by Ibn Fadlan [EWING 2007:p.119-120]
Archaeology
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Discussion
Geijer states that no such thing was found in Birka, but she does quote Ibn Fadlan (in her discussion & comparison) who described the clothing of a dead Swedish Chieftain he met at the Volga. Ibn describes the Swedish Chieftain as having been dressed for burial (among other things) in "a golden hat with sable fur". Geijer does go on to say that this is not typical Swedish Viking clothing but is an example of how men would have picked up and adopted exotic bits of clothing whilst on their travels. Hence the apparent variation in male clothing and uniformity in female clothing found at Birka [GEIJER 1938:p.150].
Almgren in his 1966 book 'The Viking' was the first person to depict this style of hat being worn by a Viking. He seems to make an argument that this style of hat would have been worn by Hungarian Magyar warriors of the time. He cites Hungarian bridle-bits and Hungarian type stirrups finds from both Birka in Sweden and Trellborg in Denmark as the basis of hos thoery that if the Vikings were using Magyar horse equipment then they would also have adopted their fashion as well. [ALMGREN 1966:p.228-230]
Reference
<nocite> ALMGREN1966 BRANDENBURGH2009 CROOM2000 EWING2007 GEIJER1938 HEYEN2002 INWARDS1922 WILSON1985 </nocite> <biblio force=false>#Template:Bib</biblio>
