Diadems

Diadems are circular bands worn around the head, typically signifying royal authority or ceremonial status. The term comes from the Greek diádēma, meaning a band bound across the head.

Historically, diadems appear in ancient Near Eastern, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman contexts as symbols of power. They range from plain gold fillets to elaborate jeweled bands; some featured arches or central ornaments and were worn by kings, queens, or deities in art and coin imagery.

In heraldry and royal regalia, a diadem is often represented as a crown-like circlet without a full crown's arches, especially in modern depictions of queens or empresses. Distinctions are sometimes made between diadems, crowns, and tiaras; a diadem is typically a circular band, whereas a tiara is often a high, forward-facing ornament.

In contemporary use, diadems survive mainly as decorative headbands or jewelry worn at formal events, pageants, or performances. In some royal traditions, the diadem remains a symbol of the monarchy, though actual ceremonial crowns are distinct regalia.