Aug 22, 2024
New obsession:
THIS HAT ⬆️
Can only find it called kalatiskos in relation to this one image of it at the Carneia festival (on volute krater from C5th BCE). Wiki descrips suggest a male dancer (no mention of what’s happening to the skirt! Whirling round?) in a straw hat!
A kalathos is a basket (nifty Archaic Greek ceramic version from the BM below) worn as a crown (like a polos but taller), to signify prosperity, like on the statue of Serapis below (a bit like a cornucopia?)
And ‘-iskos’ is a diminutive. So… a little Kalathos? Hardly looks little though in that base painting! Reminds me of an Erté crown!
And the skirt reminded me of Sufi dancers (exact image provided by art friend!)
