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HAIR-DRESSING OF ROMAN LADIES AS ILLUSTRATED ON COINS. |
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51 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE Plotina, the virtuous wife of Trajan, who probably contributed in no small degree to his glory, died in 129A.D. In her hair-dressing she emphasizes the close roll of hair round the face till it assumes the proportions of what is nowadays known as a “pompadour.” A close band, perhaps of metal, fits tightly round the face at the roots of the hair, apparently connected with and forming part of the high diadem which rises behind the “pompadour.” Fine plaits seem to be indicated down the back of the head, becoming merged in the “catogan.” Illust. XXV. and XXVII Sometimes in sculpture, as in the example in the Capitoline Museum, her head has rather a meagre appearance (see Bernouilli, Romische Iconographie, Stuttgart, 1882, ii. 2, taf. xxix. 6). With this we may compare the coin in the British Museum. Illust. XXVI. About the time of Trajan (died 117A.D.), though the fully curled “front” is at times retained, a tendency in the direction of plaiting begins to take its place. Elaboration is still the prevailing “note.” In the case of Matidia, niece of Trajan, the roll of the “Pompadour” is evidently in metal, and becomes part of a triple diadem entirely covering the front of the head. Behind this diadem the hair is gathered up and wound round the head in a stiff plait. The effect must have been very hard and uncompromising (see Bernouilli, Rom. Icon., ii. 2. 34, 35). A spike or tuft of metal rises from the front band of the diadem. Illust. XXIX. The metallic circlet fitting closely round the face with the diadem is not improbably the Roman version of the Greek lt'pv4 (ampyx), elaborated by the Romans, and vulgarized in the process. Among the Greeks it was a
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