Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 8, 2026

Nemes

Nemes consisted of pieces of striped head cloth worn by pharaohs in ancient Egypt. It covered the whole crown and behind of the head and nape of the neck and had lappets, two large flaps which hung down behind the ears and in front of both shoulders. It was sometimes combined with the double crown, as it is on the statues of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel.

Last revised
Jul 8, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
446 w
Citations
4
Source
Nemes
Nemes, symbolizing the Pharaoh’s power, both in life and death
Details
CountryEgypt
MaterialLinen
T34 m sV6
Nemes, striped head cloth
(crown as
determinative)


in hieroglyphs

n
T34 m
sV6
Nemes
in hieroglyphs

Nemes (English: /ˈnɛmɛs/) were pieces of striped head cloth worn by pharaohs in ancient Egypt.1 It covered the whole crown and behind of the head and nape of the neck (sometimes also extending a little way down the back) and had lappets, two large flaps which hung down behind the ears and in front of both shoulders.2 It was sometimes combined with the double crown,3 as it is on the statues of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel.

Modern recreations

Yul Brynner wearing a nemes as Ramesses II in The Ten Commandments source ↗

The occult society "The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn" used headwear similar to ancient Egyptian nemes, which they spelled "nemyss", as part of their "traditional ceremonial garb".4

See also

See also

Further reading

Further reading

References

References

  1. Kathryn A. Bard, Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, Routledge 1999, p.412
  2. Watson Early Mills, Roger Aubrey Bullard, Mercer Dictionary of the Bible, Mercer University Press 1990, p.679
  3. Max Pol Fouchet, Rescued Treasures of Egypt, McGraw-Hill 1965, p.208
  4. Cicero, Chic; Cicero, Sandra Tabatha (2019). Golden dawn magic : a complete guide to the high magical arts. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-7387-5798-8. OCLC 1089884900.
External links