the cap of liberty

Reading notes

• The History of Rome, Book 24 §16 Capped, or with white wool veiling their heads

  The felt cap (pilleus) placed on a slave's head at his manumission, the badge of freedom; the freed volones feasted with it or with white wool veiling their heads, and Syracusan slaves were 'called to the cap of liberty.'

• The History of Rome, Book 38 §41 cap of liberty

  The pilleus, the felt cap worn by freed slaves and shown in triumphs; Culleo wore it as a freedman of Scipio after his ransom.

• The History of Rome, Book 45 §46 in a felt cap

  The pilleus, the felt cap worn by freed slaves; Prusias wore it to style himself Rome's freedman.