Handkerchief

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A sweat towel is a piece of cloth that is used to cleanse and absorb sweat.

history

antiquity

In the Roman world , the handkerchief for the face ( Latin sudarium from sudor 'sweat') was reserved for the upper classes of the population. The poet Catullus first mentioned welding cloths with the name Sudarium . They were made of Egyptian linen , usually rectangular, and tucked into a fold of the toga . Modern historians refer to them as etiquette towels .

At the same time, in Judaism, the cloth that was used to cover the head of a deceased at the funeral was called the handkerchief. The comment in John's Gospel goes back to this: "The handkerchief that had been lying on the head of Jesus [...] was not placed with the linen bandages, but tied up next to it in a special place." (20.7 EU )

middle Ages

Fresco from the 16th century with the handkerchief of Veronica in the tympanum of the pilgrimage church of Grongörgen

As a relic of Christ, the Veronica's handkerchief was given special veneration since the early Middle Ages . When Jesus Christ was brought to the place of execution , according to legend, when she saw him sweating and bleeding, St. Veronica handed him her triple-folded veil , in which his image remained three times when he returned the veil to Veronica. Of these three impressions, one stayed in Jerusalem , one came to Jaén in Spain, and one to Rome, where Volusianus brought him and thus cured the Emperor Tiberius of a serious illness.This cloth is kept in St. Peter's Basilica as the Sudarium of Christ to this day .

Modern times

After new weaving techniques were invented in the 18th century and fabrics were inexpensive, handkerchiefs in the form known today prevailed and took over the function of the handkerchief .

Further meaning

A fine wax canvas that is varnished on both sides and that is attached where sweat can damage clothing is also referred to as a sweat cloth . B. under the arm.

literature

  • Art. Handkerchief. In: Pierer's Universal Lexicon. Volume 15. Altenburg 1862, p. 618 ( online at zeno.org).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ sudarium on merriam-webster.com (English)
  2. ↑ Alfred Schindler: Veronica's handkerchief. In: Apocrypha to the Old and New Testament. 4th edition. Manesse, Zurich 1990, ISBN 3-7175-1756-2 , pp. 555-557