Infula

Infula a flock of white and red wool, which was slightly twisted, drawn into the form of a wreath or fillet, and used by the Romans for ornament on festive and solemn occasions. In sacrificing it was tied with a white riband [VITTA] to the head of the victim (Verg. G. 3.487; Lucret. 1.88; Sueton. Calig. 27), and also of the priest, more especially in the worship of Apollo and Diana, but sometimes of other deities as well. ( Sacerdotes Cereris cum infulis ac verbenis, Cic. Ver. 4.50, § 110; Verg. A. 2.430, 10.538; Servius, in loc.; Isid. Orig. 19.30; Festus, s. v. Infulae.) The torta infula was worn also by the Vestal Virgins. (Prud. c. Symm. 2.1085, 1094.) It would seem that the infula was itself knotted at intervals with the vitta (Rich); the loose flocks of wool would require some such fastening, and it is thus represented on a painting found at Herculaneum. At Roman marriages the bride, who carried wool upon a distaff in the procession [FUSUS], fixed it as an infula upon the door-posts of her future husband on entering the house. (Lucan 2.355; Plin. Nat. 29.30; Servius ad Verg. A. 4.459 MATRIMONIUM Vol. II. p. 144.)

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