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Petasos
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Marble statue of Hermes wearing a petasos hat and holding a caduceus, seated with draped cloth, set against a clear blue sky in the port of Copenhagen.
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Also spelled:
Petasus
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Marble statue of Hermes wearing a petasos hat and holding a caduceus, seated with draped cloth, set against a clear blue sky in the port of Copenhagen.
petasos Hermes wearing a petasos, sculpture in the port of Copenhagen.

Petasos

hat
Also known as: petasus
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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Last updated
•History

Petasos, wide-brimmed hat with a conical crown worn in ancient Greece. The petasos worn by men had a rather low crown, while that worn by women had a tall one.

A hat used for traveling, the petasos was made of felt or straw and had a chin strap, so that when not in use it could be hung down the back. The winged hat of the god Hermes (or Mercury) was also called a petasos.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.