Tiara

The tiara was a headgear that the typical clothing of the rulers in oriental countries, including in the Persian Empire and the Achaemenid Empire, belonged, but also in the military and was worn by the people in ancient times. The name Tiara is the Greek transliteration of a well- Persian name.

The tiara is probably Median origin and resembles the Phrygian cap. It is a tall, conical hat, top round or pointed ending, probably mostly made ​​of felt or fleece, with flaps on the ears and in the neck that could be worn hanging down, but also tied up. The side flaps could be tied under the chin or beard, as was the possibility bind them together for protection over the mouth and nose. In Achaemenid pictures priests are seen in rituals with such mouth guard to perhaps to protect sacred objects from human breath. According to Herodotus, the cap could only be worn by the king standing upright, all others, including satraps and military leaders, carried the top folded forward. The upper part was often decorated as ornaments came example myrtle oak or questioned, even simple disk or star pattern were common. To the forehead, above the tiara of the rulers often wore a diadem, which was tied at the neck.

The Persian tiara and their variations are characteristic of the people and gods in Commagene Nemrut Dagi Hierothesion on the shown in the Persian regalia. John H. Young distinguishes four types there the tiara. First, he Persian Tiara ( Tiara Persian ) called, with forward folded tip, which is carried here by the gods, but also of early, large Achaemenid kings. The Pointed Tiara ( Tiara top ) has a peak upright and shows up in the later Persian ancestors of King Antiochus. The Satrapial Tiara ( Tiara satraps ), the tip of flat forward to hanging over the diadem, also occurs in later ancestors of the king. The Armenian tiara ( Armenian tiara ) contributes in Commagene only the King Antiochus himself in this type side and rear flaps are tied up under the diadem, it ends up crown-like in five points and is decorated with lions, flash bundles, oak leaves or other floral designs. This last species is also known from coins and as a head covering of the Armenian king Tigranes I and some of his descendants.

In some publications Tiara is also used to refer to the Persian crown Kidaris or for which the Phrygian cap -like headgear pilleus of Mithras.

Tigranes II with eagle decorated Armenian tiara

Xerxes I decorated with star tiara on the Nemrut Dagi

The Parthian king Vologaeses VI. with tiara