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Witch Hats: From Ancient Power to Elphaba
20 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Conical headwear dates back to Bronze Age priests.
- Chinese mummies wore tapered hats, called Subeshi Witches.
- Witch hats are iconic in literature and film.
The enduring image of the witch often includes the distinctive conical hat, a symbol with roots stretching back to antiquity. Ancient Bronze Age priests wore majestic, gold, tapered headpieces adorned with astronomical symbols, signifying their connection to divine power and knowledge. Further evidence of this ancient headwear was discovered with Chinese mummies from the 4th to 2nd Centuries BC.
These mummies, unearthed in 1978, sported pointy hats, leading to their modern moniker, 'The Witches of Subeshi'. This historical association highlights that the conical hat's symbolism predates its common depiction in folklore and popular culture.
From these ancient origins, the conical hat has evolved into a powerful visual trope, famously featured in iconic works. Its presence in Frank L. Baum's 'The Wicked Witch of the West', the 1939 film 'The Wizard of Oz', the 'Harry Potter' series, and Cynthia Erivo's portrayal of Elphaba in 'Wicked' solidifies its status as an enduring symbol of witchcraft.
