Roman Sun Hat: A Rare 1,600-Year-Old Brimmed Cap from Late Roman Egypt

A sun hat crafted from felted wool in late Roman Egypt has emerged as a unique artifact from the early Christian era. The hat, one of only three surviving examples, was generously donated to the Chadwick Museum in Bolton, England, by the renowned English Egyptologist Sir Flinders Petrie. Petrie unearthed this rare piece in 1911 at the ancient site of Lahun in Egypt’s Fayum region, along with a collection of remarkable Coptic textiles. The distinctive conical hat, measuring approximately 15.5 inches in diameter, features a brim constructed from red felt, with green and blue woolen fabric detailing and a white felt lining.