I.a band, bandage.
II. In partic., a white and red fillet or band of woollen stuff, worn upon the forehead, as a sign of religious consecration and of inviolability, a sacred fillet; so a priest's fillet: “sacerdotes Cereris cum infulis,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 50, § 110: “Phoebi Triviaeque sacerdos, Infula cui sacrā redimibat tempora vittā,” Verg. A. 10, 538: cujus sacerdotii (i. e. fratrum arvalium) insigne est spicea corona et infulae albae, Sabin. ap. Gell. 7, 7, 8.—Hence, meton., a priest, Prud. Apoth. 486.—Of the victim's fillet (whether beast or man): “saepe in honore deum medio stans hostia ad aram, Lanea dum niveā circumdatur infula vittā,” Verg. G. 3, 487: “infula virgineos circumdata comptus (of Iphigenia),” Lucr. 1, 87.— Of the fillet worn by a suppliant for protection: “velata infulis ramisque oleae Carthaginiensium navis,” Liv. 30, 36, 4: “velamenta et infulas praeferentes,” Tac. H. 1, 66: “hae litterae (philosophy) apud mediocriter malos infularum loco sunt,” held in awe, Sen. Ep. 14, 10: “ipsas miserias infularum loco habet,” i. e. his wretchedness claims reverence, id. ad Helv. 13, 4. —
B. Transf., an ornament, mark of distinction, badge of honor: “his insignibus atque infulis imperii venditis (said of the lands belonging to the state),” Cic. Agr. 1, 2, 6.— The insignia of an office: “honorum,” Cod. Just. 7, 63, 1: infulae imperiales, id. tit. 37 fin. — Hence, for the office itself, Spart. Hadr. 6.—Ornaments of houses and temples, i. e. carved work, etc., Luc. 2, 355.
