Misplaced Pages

The apex (plural: apices) was a cap worn by certain priests (the flamines and Salii) in ancient Rome.

The essential part of the apex, to which alone the name properly belonged, was a pointed piece of olive-wood called diminutively an apicula, the base of which was surrounded with a lock of wool. This was worn on the top of the head, and was held there either by fillets only, or, as was more commonly the case, was also fastened by means of two strings or bands, or offendices, though the latter word is also interpreted to mean a kind of button, by which the strings were fastened under the chin.

The flamines were forbidden by law to go into public - or even into the open air - without the apex, and hence we find the expression of alicui apicem dialem imponere used as equivalent to the appointment of a Flamen Dialis. Sulpicius was deprived of the priesthood, only because the apex fell from his head whilst he was sacrificing.

Dionysius of Halicarnassus describes the cap as being of a conical form. On ancient monuments it can appear round or conical.

The albogalerus, or albus galerus was a white cap worn by the flamen dialis, made of the skin of a white victim sacrificed to Jupiter, and had the apex fastened to it by means of an olive-twig.

From the word apex was formed the epithet apicatus, applied to the flamen dialis by Ovid.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Peck, Harry Thurston (1898). "Apex". In Peck, Harry Thurston (ed.). Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. New York: Harper & Brothers.

1. Festus, s.v.
2. Festus, s.v.
3. cf. Serv. ad Virg. Aen. ii.683, viii.664, x.270
4. Gellius x.15
5. Livy vi.41
6. Valerius Maximus i.1 §5
7. ii.70
8. Festus, s.v. albogalerus; Gell. x.15
9. Fast. iii.197

v t e Historical clothing
Clothing generally not worn today, except in historical settings
Body-length	Abolla Banyan Brunswick Court dress (Empire of Japan) Chiton Frock Frock coat Hanfu Justacorps Paenula Peplos Stola Toga Tunic Xout lao
Tops	Basque Bedgown Bodice Doublet Peascod belly Poet shirt Sbai Suea pat
Trousers	Braccae Breeches Sompot Chong Kben Culottes Harem Knickerbockers Pedal pushers Saragüells [ca]
Skirts	Hobble Poodle Safeguard Sompot Sinh Train
Dresses	Bliaut Close-bodied gown Debutante Gown Kirtle Mantua Polonaise Robe de cour Sack-back gown Sailor Tea gown Zaju chuishao fu
Outerwear	Capote Car coat Caraco Cardinal cloak Chamail Chlamys Cloak Kinsale cloak Dolman Doublet Duster Exomis Greatcoat Himation Houppelande Inverness cape Jerkin Kandys Mackinaw jacket Nadiri Norfolk jacket Overfrock Pañuelo Palla Pallium Pelisse Poncho Shadbelly Shawl Galway shawl Kullu Smock-frock Spencer Surcoat Surtout Ulster coat Visite Witzchoura
Underwear	Basque Bustle Chausses Chemise Codpiece Corselet Corset Waist cincher Dickey Garter Hoop skirt Crinoline Farthingale Pannier Hose Liberty bodice Loincloth Open drawers Pantalettes Petticoat Peignoir Pettipants Union suit Yếm
Headwear	Anthony Eden Apex Arakhchin Attifet Aviator Ba tầm Bergère Blessed hat Bonnet Calath crown (headdress) Capotain Caubeen Cavalier Coif Coonskin Cornette Dunce Fillet French hood Fontange Futou Gable hood Hennin Jeongjagwan Jewish Kausia Kokoshnik Llawt'u Malahai Matron's badge Miner's Mob Modius Monmouth Mooskappe Motoring hood Mounteere Nemes Nightcap Ochipok Pahlavi Petasos Phrygian Pileus Printer's Pudding Qeleshe Qing Salakot Snood Smoking Stephane (headdress) Tainia Taranga Welsh Wig Wimple
Footwear	Buskins Calcei Caligae Carbatina Chinese styles Chopines Duckbills Episcopal sandals Hessian Lotus shoes Manchu platform shoes Pampooties Pattens Pigaches Poulaines Socci Tiger-head shoes Turnshoes
Accessories	Ascot tie Belt hook Cointoise Cravat (early) Hairpin Hatpin Jabot Lavallière Muff Oes Partlet Perfumed gloves Ruff Shoe buckle Visard
Clothing portal

• Caps