Diadem

Diadem

A diadem is a type of crown, specifically an ornamental headband worn by Eastern monarchs and others as a badge of royalty. The word derives from the Greek "διάδημα" (diádēma), "band" or "fillet",[1] from "διαδέω" (diadéō), "I bind round", or "I fasten".[2]

The term originally referred to the embroidered white silk ribbon, ending in a knot and two fringed strips often draped over the shoulders, that surrounded the head of the king to denote his authority. Such ribbons were also used to crown victorious athletes in important sports games in antiquity. It was later applied to a metal crown, generally in a circular or "filet" shape. For example, the crown worn by the kings of Anglo-Saxon England was a diadem, as was that of a baron later (in some countries surmounted by three globes). The ancient Celts were believed to have used a thin semioval gold plate called a mind (Old Irish) as a diadem.[3]

A diadem is also a jeweled ornament in the shape of a half crown, worn by women and placed over the forehead (in this sense, also called tiara). In some societies, it may be a wreath worn around the head. The ancient Persians wore a high and erect royal tiara encircled with a diadem.

By extension, "diadem" can be used generally for an emblem of regal power or dignity. The head regalia worn Roman Emperors, from the time of Diocletian onwards, is described as a diadem in the original sources and it was this object that the barbarian king Odoacer sent to Zeno (the Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire) following the dissolution of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD.

Gallery

References

  1. ^ διάδημα, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital Library
  2. ^ διαδέω, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital Library
  3. ^ William Dwight Whitney, The Century dictionary; an encyclopedic lexicon of the English language. New York: The Century co. (1889), page 3772. Google Book Search.

External links


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  • Diadem — A/B Constelación Cabellera de Berenice Ascensión recta α 13h 09min 59,2s Declinación δ +17º 31’ 45’’ Distancia 6 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Diadem — Sn Stirn , Kopfschmuck erw. fach. (9. Jh., das l. Wort an Stelle einer deutschen Glosse 8. Jh.), mhd. dīadēm, ahd. dīadēma Entlehnung. Ist entlehnt aus l. diadēma, dieses aus gr. diádēma Stirnband , eigentlich Umgebundenes , einer Ableitung von… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • Diadem — Di a*dem, v. t. To adorn with a diadem; to crown. [1913 Webster] Not so, when diadem d with rays divine. Pope. [1913 Webster] To terminate the evil, To diadem the right. R. H. Neale. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Diadem — Di a*dem, n. [F. diad[ e]me, L. diadema, fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to bind round; dia through, across + ? to bind; cf. Skr. d[=a] to bind.] 1. Originally, an ornamental head band or fillet, worn by Eastern monarchs as a badge of royalty; hence (later),… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • diadem — {{/stl 13}}{{stl 8}}rz. mnż I, D. u, Mc. diademmie {{/stl 8}}{{stl 20}} {{/stl 20}}{{stl 12}}1. {{/stl 12}}{{stl 7}} w starożytności i średniowieczu: ozdobna opaska na głowę wykonana z drogocennej tkaniny, srebra lub złota, ozdobiona kamieniami… …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • Diadēm — (griech.), Band zum Zusammenhalten des Haupthaars, Stirnband, Kopfbinde; bei Ägyptern, Assyrern, Babyloniern Zeichen der Würde königlicher und andrer angesehener Personen. Bei den Hebräern (Neser) schmückte es die Könige und Hohenpriester in der… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Diadem — Diadem, in den frühesten Zeiten ein aus Seide oder Wolle gewebtes Stirnband, zuerst von Bacchus getragen, um dessen Kopfschmerzen, Folgen der Trunkenheit, zu mindern; doch dieser soll es erst von seinem Zuge nach Indien mitgebracht haben; worauf… …   Damen Conversations Lexikon

  • diadem — DIADÉM s.n. v. diademă. Trimis de IoanSoleriu, 17.07.2004. Sursa: DEX 98  DIADÉM s.n. v. diademă. Trimis de LauraGellner, 22.03.2009. Sursa: DN …   Dicționar Român

  • diadem — [dī′ə dem΄, dī′ədəm] n. [ME & OFr diademe < L diadema < Gr diadēma, a band, fillet < dia , through + IE * demn, a band < base * de , to bind > Gr dein] 1. a crown 2. an ornamental cloth headband worn as a crown 3. royal power,… …   English World dictionary

  • Diadēm — (v. gr.), 1) Binde; 2) seidene od. wollene Stirnbinde, schmal, nur in der Mitte über der Stirn breiter, die Enden, hinten zusammengeknüpft, fielen auf den Hals. Das D. war Insignie der alten Perserkönige (blauweißes Band um die Tiara), der… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Diadem — Diadēm (grch.), Stirnbinde, mit Perlen und Edelsteinen verziert, bes. für Frauen; im Altertum Schmuck der Fürsten …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

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