Birrus Explained

A birrus or birrus brittanicus was a rainproof, hooded woollen cloak (or simply a hood alone), characteristically worn in Britain and Gaul at the time of the Roman Empire and into the Middle Ages.^{[1] [2]}

A mosaic at Chedworth Roman Villa shows a Briton wearing a birrus brittanicus;^[3] there is also one shown on a statue of a ploughman at the British Museum.^[4]

See also

• Burnous

Notes and References

1. William Smith, D.C.L., LL.D.: A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875. quoted at https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Birrus.html (retrieved April 29, 2008)
2. T.W. Potter, Roman Britain, 2nd edition (London, The British Museum Press, 1997) quoted at the British Museum website https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_prb/b/statuette_of_a_ploughman.aspx (retrieved April 29, 2008)
3. http://www.open2.net/historyandthearts/history/locations_chedworth.html BBC/OU Open2.net - History - Locations - Chedworth
4. https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_prb/b/statuette_of_a_ploughman.aspx British Museum website