Does anyone think they can trace the black conical "Witch" hat with wide brim earlier than the inquisition?

Question

Nobody has mentioned black conical "Witch" hat with wide brim earlier than the inquisition, yet. Conical hats in themselves go back to Assyria, and Babylon. But none were black or have wide brims.

Answer 1

Hi Terry,
If I recall right I remember seeing a cave wall painting with stick figure women in black cone hats, in a PBS movie called 'Journey of Man'. Most fascinating. Show about scientific proof, through DNA, back to first man - Bushmen - and how they split and moved across the earth to secure the ongoingness of 'human' during the upcoming ice age. Worth watching even if I am wrong, but.............
Blessed Be

Answer 2

Actually the conical hat that is used to depict Withces is still in use in some places in Northern Europe. It was a common item used by old women of stature, usually elderly but very well off financially. These hats were common in Northern climates since they were useful for keeping warm and for depicting once status. The power that these women held though was enough to make some of the cultures Matriarchal. The Church was trying to challenge this kind of female power and depicted witches with the hats in order to demonize women of power.

I will ring your doorbell and run away!!!

Answer 3

Actually I remember hearing somewhere that the witches of the old days used to wear a hat like that for some of their rituals because the cone shape of the hat is supposed to center the witch. Im not sure on that and dont have any proof of it but this is what I have heard.

Answer 4

It derived from this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hennin
http://www.eleanorlebrun.com/wovenhats2.htm
It was turned into a proper hat with a brim later in England and even later became the model for a witches hat.
As a woven hat it would have been fairly easy to construct and was probably popular among those likely to be accused of witchraft (old women living alone)

Answer 5

oh yes, though perhaps not the colour.

The conical hat was worn by the flamen dialys of ancient Rome.

He was essentially the "head priest" of their very odd religion.

They beleived there were all manner of things that the gods liked and didnt like - so many it was absolutely impossible for all people to follow these (ie- gods didnt like to see people working), so the Flamen Dialys did all the things the rest of the population couldnt, for practical reasons. (or as practical as one can get discussing this religion. I hope my explanation is making sense).

One of the things the gods liked was to see people wearing big conical hats, and so the Flamen Dialys wore one. I have no idea if the colour was significant though.

Answer 6

I honestly have never even thought about it.....LOL
I have a really cool witch hatch with a feather brim. :D

Answer 7

Why does it matter?

I look dashing in a pointy hat.

Answer 8

i know it's not a proper answer but i think this webpage has got lots of stuff related to this issue.

http://www.controverscial.com/The%20Witches%20Hat.htm