The first century Roman bride wore a straight, floor length tunic made of white cloth.  It was gathered at the waist with a special wedding cingulum, or belt, which symbolized her chastity.

Constructed of woven wool, it featured an elaborate Herculean Knot, also known as the Love Knot.  This represented the attachment of the groom to the bride, just as the tufts of wool were coupled together in the creation of the belt.

When the husband untied the knot, he hoped to be as fortunate in producing children as Hercules, who had seventy children.

“If two people compete with each other to show how much each cares for the other, they’ll have a beautiful union.” Rufus, first century A.D.