With the recent excessive temperatures a story which I first saw on the BBC News website about the conservation of a surprising artefact in the collection of the Museum in Bolton. seems very topical. It is about a wool fabric sun hat - one of only three known to survive - from Egypt. It is dated to the time of the Roman occupation by Augustus of the country after the death of Cleopatra VII.
I am told by a friend who is an Egyptologist that the Chadwick Museum collection in Bolton has significant holdings of ancient Egyptian textiles, reflecting the commercial interests of late nineteenth century industrialists in the town.
The hat certainly, for obvious reasons, shows resemblances to those affected by soldiers in World War II, by cricketers in the field, and by tourists - like myself many years ago - to modern Egypt. Its closest resemblance is to a type of combined folding sun and rain hat remember my other and other women wearing in the 1960s on the basis of ‘always being prepared’.
A more substantial and more recent version in purpose and appearance is, of course, the pith helmet or solar topee of recent centuries. Wikipedia gives an interesting history of that particular piece of headgear at Pith helmet
The BBC article can be seen at Bolton Museum displays rare Roman sun hat following restoration
The sun hat is also featured by The History Blog at Roman soldier’s floppy sunhat goes on display
Arkeonews also reports on the hat at Rare Roman Soldier’s Sun Hat Rediscovered After More Than a Century as does zmescience.com at A Rare 2,000-Year-Old Roman Hat From Cleopatra’s Egypt Has Been Restored to Its Former Glory
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