Flammeum
dim.
Flammeŏlum. The marriage
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Flammeum. (Rich.)
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veil, worn by a Roman bride on her wedding-day. It was of a brilliant yellow colour
(
Plin. H. N. xxi. 22), like a flame, from
which circumstance the name arose; and of large dimensions, sufficient to cover the whole
person from head to foot. During the ceremony it was worn over the head, to shield the
downcast looks of virgin modesty (Lucan. ii. 361), as exhibited in the annexed figure, from a
Roman marble, representing a bride (
nupta) at her wedding; and was so
retained until she arrived at her new home, when she was unveiled by her husband; as is
exemplified by the fellowing figure, also from a
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Flammeum. (Rich.)
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Roman marble, in which the bride is seen sitting unveiled upon a couch, but with the
flammeum still on her shoulders, and exhibiting a very natural gesture of feminine modesty, or
regret for the loss of her old friends and companions. See
Matrimonium.
