a narrow point, and at the back is turned up as far as the high conical
crown. (Compare Fig. 35.) The commonest shape is that of which examples
are given in Fig. 36; the crown is tolerably flat, generally not higher
than the skull; the brim, which is rather broad, and generally turned
down, is not circular all round, but cut out at several places--either
between the ears and the forehead, so that a point falls over the
latter, while the brim extends in semi-circular form round the back of
the head; or else this half is cut out in the same way as the front
part, so that the brim ends in four points, which generally fall over
the forehead, back of the head, and ears. Still, we sometimes find
instances where it is only cut out over the forehead, and the points
fall to the right and left of the face. This shape is very common in the
best period, that is, in the fifth and fourth centuries. Afterwards,
there were some very strange shapes, such as that in Fig. 37, on the
left, which is found on vase pictures of the best period and reminds us
of the hats pointed in front and behind worn at the beginning of this
century. The petasos was fastened under the chin with a cord; when it
was not wanted it was pushed down below the neck, where it was kept in
place by the cord; and we find it frequently in this position. (Compare
Fig. 38.)
[Illustration: FIG. 38.]
When, as sometimes happens, the petasos has a high crown, and a narrow
turned-up brim, it is often very like the _pilos_, a cap of leather or
felt, which was the common dress of workmen, especially smiths,
countrymen, fishermen, sailors, etc. Odysseus, as sailor, is almost
always represented with it; and so is Charon, the ferryman of the nether
world, Hephaestus, as smith, etc. Invalids who were obliged to protect
their heads from the weather, also wore such caps. These caps, too, were
of various shapes; semi-circular, fitting closely to the head, and
half-oval, projecting somewhat beyond the head, or of a more pointed
conical shape. (Compare that of Odysseus, Fig. 39, and the sailors, Fig.
40, where, as is often the case, it has a narrow, lower brim.) It is
evident from the drawing that the material must have been skin, which
was the commonest next to felt. These caps were often fastened with
strings below the chin, and there was sometimes a bow at the apex by
which they could be hung up.
[Illustration: FIG. 39.]
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