The tiara’s history dates back to antiquity. A tiara, sometimes called a diadem in Greek, was originally only a plain fabric headband worn mostly by Olympic champions (the word diadema in Greek means “headband”). The heads of the Persian shahs, Egyptian pharaohs, and Hellenistic kings were adorned with diadems as a sign of power. The diadem did not become fashionable under Roman Empire emperors until the third century.
History of the Tiara
Their wives were 200 years older than they were. They wore headbands that sat in their hair like a crescent moon as early as the first century. Tiaras were once popular in the Middle Ages, when women primarily covered their hair with hoods, despite the fact that they were also worn in the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium).
The use of tiaras was mostly forgotten in the centuries that followed. This only changed in the late 18th century with the resurgence of ancient styles. The women had tiaras in their hair and wore high-belted shirt dresses that looked like Roman tunics.
Napoleon frequently gifted the Empress Joséphine gorgeous jewelry sets that included numerous tiaras, making her collection of tiaras exceptionally enormous. Joséphine was a generous giver as well as a generous receiver of gifts. She gave some of her jewelry, including her cameo diadem, which Crown Princess Victoria last wore during her wedding, to her granddaughter, who went on to become Queen of Sweden.
