ABSTRACT
This paper examines the use of prosthetic hair in the form of wigs and hair pieces in the Roman Republic and Empire. It surveys the importance of hair as a social and symbolic presentation of self in Roman society, investigates the reasons for and ramifications of hair loss for Roman men and women, and determines the extent to which prosthetic hair was utilised as a means of addressing these, before assessing the importance of prosthetic hair as an alternative social and symbolic presentation of self in Roman society. It pays particular attention to the sources of the hair incorporated into Roman wigs and hair pieces, and considers the potential significance of these origins to the Romans.
