Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Diadema

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

DIADE'MA (διάδημα). A diadem; which, in its original notion, means the blue and white band worn by the Asiatic monarchs round the tiara (Xen. Cyr. viii. 3. 13.), as shown by the illustration s. CIDARIS; but subsequently the diadem was a broad white band (Val. Max. vi. 2. 7.), fastened round the head, and tied in a bow behind, adopted by other nations, as an ensign of sovereignty (Juv. xiii. 105.), like the annexed example (Diadema/1.1), from an engraved gem, representing Ptolemy, the brother of Cleopatra. Thus in works of art, the diadem indicates a regal station, like the crown of modern times.

References

edit