A 2,000-year-old hat, one of three of its kind, is now on display at a Manchester museum.
The hat, which helped to protect Romans from the sun, has been carefully restored and is now available for people to go and see.
The artefact is one of the best-preserved examples in the world, and is now on display at the Bolton Museum.
The global fascination with the Roman Empire
News like this is set to benefit Greater Manchester quite substantially, especially given the global rise of interest in the Roman Empire.
This trend is particularly evident in modern media as well.
For Those About To Die, which is set in the Flavian dynasty, shows the grandeur and brutality of ancient Rome, and drew a huge audience.
Games like Civilization 7 also allow you to play as Augustus, who played a huge part in the history of Rome.
Casino games at Paddy’s, like Gladiator Road to Rome, also showcase the marvels of the Roman arena, including colosseums, and the gladiators that fought there.
The game, which is inspired by the film Gladiator, helps to convey the allure of the era, as well as the historical context in which gladiator arenas played.
With Gladiator II being such a huge success as well, it’s clear that our passion for all things Rome is still ongoing.
Historical relics, like the ancient Roman hat that has recently been restored, often draw in big audiences too, which could mean a boom in tourism for Greater Manchester and particularly, The Bolton Museum.
What’s most interesting is that the hat has been adapted for Egyptian conditions, including intense sun and even sandstorms.
Experts believe that the hat was made after the conquest of Egypt, which followed the death of Queen Cleopatra in 30 BC.
The hat was donated to the Bolton Museum
The piece was donated to the first museum in Bolton, which at the time was known as the Chadwick Museum.
It was located in Queen’s Park, with conservation of the hat undertaken by Jacqui Hyman, who has worked on numerous projects around the world.
Funding for the project was given by Ritherdon & CO. LTD.
Hyman, who restored the hat, has said that sensitive treatment was required due to the fragility of the hat.
Moths had damaged it, resulting in pieces missing felt, but by using a hand-dyed fabric, it was possible to recreate the original structure of the hat.
The Roman hat is currently on display at the entrance to the Egyptian gallery, and there it will remain for the foreseeable future.
The two other hats are at the Whitworth Art Gallery, which is also in Manchester, and a museum in Italy.
Although the hat is a Roman artefact, the strong connection to Egypt is particularly interesting and helps to show how, over time, countries with very different philosophies have merged to create new and exciting finds.
The hat is said to have drawn people from the local area as well as from nearby cities, and for history buffs in particular, it’s certainly worth the visit.
Feature image: Free to use from Pexels
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