Petasos

A Petasos was a wide-brimmed floppy hat of Greek origin. It was worn by farmers and travelers in ancient Greece and was, therefore, associated with rural people. The characteristic feature of the hat is the brim that is slightly winged upwards. This made is a symbol of Hermes, the Messenger God in Greek mythology.

Petasos was made from varied materials such as straw, leather, or even felt wool, and therefore, it could be worn in different seasons depending upon the material. The Athenian cavalry even adopted the shape for the uniform’s helmet.

Another salient feature about the hat was that it had a few holes around the edges for attachment of the hat cover. Generally, Petasos was worn with the Greek cape known as the Chalmys.