2024 Calontir Fall Coronation - 2nd Century Roman

For the Coronation of their Royal Majesties Robert Magnus and Magge Magnus, I decided to create a Trajanic Roman outfit. This refers to the time that Trajan, or Caesar Nerva Traianus, ruled. He was emperor from 98 AD to 117 AD (i.e., late 1st century to early 2nd century). 

I chose such a specific timeframe/era because I wanted to attempt a recreation of the hairstyle shown on the "Marble portrait of a young woman" from the Trajan period:

So, I looked into jewelry from around the same time. I found a beautiful Roman gold, pearl, and glass necklace from the 1st century AD and several examples of gold hoop earrings with pearl pendants from the 1st-2nd century AD.

The final piece of jewelry was based on a necklace from the 3rd century (oh dear!) but I really liked it so I went with it.

And for the dress, I made a stola, the garment that many ancient Roman women (more specifically married citizen women) wore. It was the female equivalent of a toga. I often just call it a tunic because my brain cannot hold onto the term "stola" to save its life for some reason. 

The stola did not change much throughout the Roman Empire, at least in Rome itself, so I mostly looked for how it was tied in the Trajan period and chose colors that can be seen in frescoes from the same period. Specifically, pink and blue!

I also chose to make a veil just because I wanted to, although they are period. The butterflies are a nod to Her Majesty who loves butterflies, and because I love a theme!

The event was held by Mag Mor (my barony) and it was a hot, hot day. I had not slept at all the night before, and once I got home I took down my hair, put on my pajamas, and conked out. All-in-all, a success. 

Event: Saturday, July 13th, 2024

Where: Lincoln, NE

Competition: Queen's Choice, butterfly in any medium - made a Persian braid case with butterfly embroidery and beading and a taj. 

Image Bibliography

Marble Portrait of a Young Woman. 117 CE 98AD. Marble. Gallery 162. The Metropolitan Museum. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/252919.

Gold, Pearl, and Glass Necklace. 1st Century CE. Gold, glass. Gallery 166. The Metropolitan Museum. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/251019.

Gold Earring with Pearl Pendant. 1st - 2nd Century CE. Gold. The Metropolitan Musem. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/243199.

Marble Head and Torso of Athena. 1st - 2nd Century. Marble. Gallery 159. The Metropolitan Museum. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/251476.

Necklace with Paste Beads. 3rd Century CE. Gold, glass paste. The Metropolitan Museum. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/243092.

New York University. “Before the End: Pompeii in Fresco,” n.d. https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/publications/arts-digest/issue-2/highlights/pompeii-in-fresco.html.

Fresco Fragment - Woman in Pink. 1st Century AD. Fresco. Getty Museum. https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/1061ZT#full-artwork-details.