ABOUT CROWNS.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXIX, Issue 3943, 12 July 1918, Page 4

ABOUT CROWNS.

Although crowns are now almost always associated with royalty, they were at one time used for the simple purpose of keeping uncombed hair ofl iiid eyes. Originally mad© of flowers MiJ plants they were subsequently lijrmed of horn, and finally of metal. Jupitor wore wild flowers j Bacchus, ivy; Apollo laurel; Minerva, olive, and Venuo, roses. But artificial crowns, so far as can be discovered, were first xorn in Egypt.

In ancient times not only kings and u?aders, but priests, athletes, victors, and even ordinary citii:ens, seem to have worn crowns. The Romans had many, kinds of crowns. A crown made of grass or weeds, gathered on the spot, was often presented by a beleaguered city to the general who raised the siege. The civic crown was made of oak leaves, and was given to a soldier who in battle saved the life of a. Roman titizen. This crown, Won freedom of luxation for the wearer and for his father and paternal grandfather. The camp crown, made of gold, was given to him who first entered the enemy's camp; the naval crown, to him who first boar Sod an enemy's ship. To him who gained a victory over pirates on the high seas was presented with .1 crown of myrtle. The triumphal crown ivas held over a victor after his triumph, and was originally made of bay or laurel ; afterward, however, it was made of gold.

The Roman birthday crown was of laurel or parsley—the same as that given to athletes. Gladiators had crowns of fennel, the emblem of strength. The nuptial crown was plucked by the bride herself, and consisted of vervain or verbena. Sacerdotal crowns were generally made of green wheat; the funeral ones as a rule were of flowers. Crowns held in the hand, as we very often see on tombs and in paintings, are intended to represent that the deceased led a blameless life. The crown of thorns placed on the head of a victim was a sign of special ignominy. Thus was our Blessed Saviour crowned, and to us this crown lias become one of most cherished emblems of His Passion.

Prom Persia, through Alexander the Great, the kingly crown reached Europe. Nero is said to have been the first of the Roman emperors to wear a gold crown, though some claim that distinction for Caligula. In Vienn* to-day may be found th« most famous of all European crowns— that of Charlemange, which consists of four large and four small platep of gold hinged together, and highly <mameiled with Scriptural subjects. A crown made in the'sixth century, called the Iron Crown of Lombardy, was the one with which Napoleon was crowned at Milan in 1805. It waß in gold, with an inner circlet of iron, thought to be made from one of th« nails of the True Cross.

Much could be written on the history of the various European crowns. From the string,of pearls worn by the chiefs of Briton in.'the time of the Romans, t>> the present crown of the British Emoire, is a long story, and one of intense history. That mass of brilliant stones, mad© up principally of the jewels taken from old crowns rich in historical associations, is an-epitome of English history, and recalls many a tale of heroism and daring, as well as of intrigue and massacre.