Tainia (costume)

This article is about a ribbon worn in the hair. For an element of Doric architecture, see Taenia (architecture). For other uses, see Taenia (disambiguation).

In ancient Greek costume, a tainia (Ancient Greek: ταινία; pl.: ταινίαι or Latin: taenia; pl.: taeniae) was a headband, ribbon, or fillet.

A Pompeian woman wearing a taenia girdle (painting by J.W. Godward, 1891)

Coin of king Perseus of Macedon wearing a taenia or diadema headband

The tainia headband was worn with the traditional ancient Greek costume. The headbands were worn at Greek festivals. The gods also bound their heads with tainiai. Furthermore, cult images, trees, urns, monuments, animal sacrifices and the deceased had tainiai wound around them. They were later adopted by the Romans. A similar type of headband was the diadema, used as a symbol for kings.

See also

• Clothing in ancient Greece
• Fillet (clothing)
• Wreath (attire)

External links

• Image of a woman wearing a chiton and a broad taenia at Perseus Project