Posted by Bob Mozark on July 30, 2000 at 09:48:36:
In Reply to: What do they teach people in school these days... posted by The Captain on July 03, 2000 at 05:41:35:
: ...a fez is a red felt cylindrical brimless hat with a black tassel originally associated with Fez, Morocco, but generally associated with the Eastern Mediterranean (especially under the Turkish Empire).
[The Ottoman Empire. When Kamal Ataturk and his "Young Turks" assumed power the banned the wearing of the fez as a symbol of sickness of the Ottomans.]
: It was worn in numerous '30's movies (and occasionally later) by the likes of Peter Lorre, Sidney Greenstreet, and an infinite number of genies (but not Barbara Eden). Any good Eric Ambler novel will have one villain who wears a fez.
[Like the horned Viking helmet with just another example of Hollywood getting it wrong.]