Revision as of 19:11, 8 October 2008

Of the Republican flaminicae we have the most evidence and discussion concerning the Flaminica Dialis.

religious dress: Her dress consisted of a dyed purple robe (venenato operitur); her hair was plaited in a high topnot, the tutulus, bound with wool purple fillets, vittae', the rica a square handkerchief-sized veil made of undyed white wool with purple fringes, covered the tutulus, then a garland of (Fest. s.v. Tutulum, Rica; Varro, De Ling. Lat. VII.44). Over the robe and rica was worn a large square veil, the purple venetatum which was clasped with a fibula. And over this another veil, the fire-coloured flammeum, to indicate fecundity and her pepetual state as a nova nupta. The flaminica dialis was nova nupta, matrona and materfamilias.

References

Festus N. Boels-Janssen "La pretresse à trois voiles" Revue des études latines, vol 67