As promised here are some pictures which show a Phrygian
cap and the general lack of trust or dislike that the cap offered. The paintings
I’m using are different versions of the Adoration of the Magi. Please note that there are different head
coverings in these paintings, in addition to racial differences for the different
Magi in the other example of the Adoration. Also be aware that there is a
specific order to the Magi—typically the three stages of man are represented,
the older man, the man in his prime, and a beardless, but grown, younger man.
This way, because there are no official statements which reflect how many Magi
there were, the three men at different stages of life could be metaphoric for
all the permutations of how many Magi there were.
Keeping this ordering system of honor in mind in this first painting, the person
closest to the Christ child is placed there out of respect, and this spot is almost
always given to the eldest in the group.
In the first painting by a northern Netherlandish artist, this older
magi is more European, and without a head covering. The other two Magi have head
coverings. The second man wears a crown, while the third man is wearing an actual
turban, which is slightly pointed, much like a Turk or someone from North
Africa/the Middle East would’ve worn at the time. Additionally, this shows us a
more European looking man as the eldest and most revered, then someone who
could be from either Europe or the far east, and the final magi has the darkest
skin, and is coincidentally the farthest from the Christ child.
In this second picture, we see all three magi in head
coverings, but this time, notice that the first and second men are both more
fair skinned, and that the middle one is wearing a helmet, and both stand in
front of an darker-skinned man who is also wearing a pointed turban. Again, the
placement of each man is similar to the first painting based on skin tone, as
the middle magi/knight appears to be younger than the final magi.
Finally, we see a modern idea of this cap in things like
the Legend of Zelda, as Link dons a Phrygian cap to fight evil. So, what do you
think? Any other cases where the cap/head covering might be a bad thing?
