Heidi Norton
Plague doctors wore long, beaked masks filled with incense, herbs, and spices, such as lavender, peppermint, and juniper berry. The costumes, which first appeared in 17th-century Europe, were intended to protect the doctors from airborne diseases during outbreaks of the bubonic plague. The masks were believed to keep away bad smells, such as decaying bodies, and prevent infection from evil smells. The practice was based on the misconception that the plague was caused by poisoned air, or miasma, rather than the Yersinia pestis bacteria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose of the mask | To keep away bad smells, such as the smell of decaying bodies |
| What was kept in the mask | Incense, dried flowers (roses and carnations), herbs (lavender, peppermint, thyme), camphor, a vinegar sponge, juniper berry, ambergris, cloves, labdanum, myrrh, storax, viper flesh powder, cinnamon, honey |
| Reasoning behind the practice | It was believed that the plague was spread by a cloud of poisonous gas, or miasma, colourless but deadly, which it was hoped could be avoided by breathing through a strong-smelling bunch of flowers, or air filled with perfumed smoke |
| Origin of the costume | The exact origins are unclear, but the costume is often credited to Charles de Lorme, a physician who treated European royals during the 17th century |
| Other uses of incense during the plague | Incense was also burned outside homes to purify the air |
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What You'll Learn
- Plague doctors wore masks to protect themselves from bad smells
- The masks were filled with herbs, spices, and perfumes
- The costumes were first worn in the 17th century
- The masks were designed with glass eye openings and a curved beak
- The costumes were originally worn by plague doctors in Italy and France
Plague doctors wore masks to protect themselves from bad smells
Plague doctors wore a special costume that included a mask with a long, curved beak shaped like a bird's beak. The purpose of the mask was to protect the doctors from "bad air" or "evil smells", known as miasma, which was thought to be the principal cause of the disease. The costume, which first appeared in the 17th century, was intended to safeguard the wearer from airborne diseases during outbreaks of the bubonic plague in Europe.
The masks were filled with fragrant herbs, flowers, and spices, such as lavender, peppermint, juniper berry, ambergris, cloves, and storax. The belief was that these pleasant smells would counteract the foul odours associated with the plague and prevent infection. This practice was based on the misconception that the plague was spread by poisoned or noxious air, rather than bacteria.
In addition to the mask, the plague doctor's costume typically included a wide-brimmed leather hat, an ankle-length overcoat, gloves, boots, a linen hood, and an outer garment. The hat and the beak-shaped mask were the most distinctive features, earning the doctors the moniker "beaked plague doctors". The costume was often depicted in satirical writings and political cartoons, contributing to its enduring association with death and foreboding.
While the methods and outfits of plague doctors may not have significantly impacted survival rates during the plague, their use of aromatic substances in the masks was rooted in the belief that certain smells could counteract disease-causing odours. This concept of "good smells" cancelling out "bad smells" reflects the understanding of the time, even if it was not based on accurate scientific knowledge about the spread of the plague.
The plague doctor costume has had a lasting impact on popular culture, often appearing during Carnival celebrations and in theatrical productions, especially in Italy. The costume's association with death and horror has also made it a popular choice for Halloween and other festive occasions, with individuals modifying and customising the outfit to suit their preferences.
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The masks were filled with herbs, spices, and perfumes
The iconic beaked masks of plague doctors were filled with herbs, spices, and perfumes. The purpose of the mask was to protect the wearer from the "evil" or "bad" smells of the plague, which were thought to be the principal cause of the disease. This "bad air" was known as miasma. The belief was that the herbs and perfumes would counter the foul odours and prevent the doctors from becoming infected. The masks were designed with two small nose holes, allowing the doctors to breathe while carrying the impression of the herbs enclosed in the beak.
The plague doctors' costumes, including the beaked masks, were intended to protect the physicians from the plague during outbreaks of the bubonic plague in Europe. The costumes covered the body, providing a barrier against blood, lymph, and cough droplets. The masks, in particular, served as a type of respirator, containing various aromatic items. The beak-shaped part of the mask was filled with dried flowers, such as roses and carnations, herbs like lavender and peppermint, and spices including juniper berry, ambergris, and cloves. Other items placed in the beak included camphor, a vinegar sponge, and storax.
The specific herbs and spices chosen for the masks were believed to have protective properties. For example, lavender was commonly used for its pleasant fragrance, while rosemary was burned in southern Europe to purify the air. In addition to the items placed directly in the beak, plague doctors also carried handheld pomanders—small boxes or cloth sachets filled with fragrant substances such as amber, incense, and sulphur. These pomanders could be sniffed during examinations to further protect the doctors from inhaling the poisonous miasma.
The costume of the plague doctor, particularly the beaked mask, has become a well-known symbol of horror and death. The mask's distinctive shape and association with the plague have made it a staple of Italian theatre and carnival celebrations. While the costume may not have provided effective protection against the plague, as believed at the time, it certainly left a lasting impression that continues to capture the public imagination.
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The costumes were first worn in the 17th century
The full costume consisted of a leather hat, a mask with glass eyes and a beak, a stick to remove the clothes of a plague victim, gloves, a waxed linen robe, and boots. The typical mask had glass openings for the eyes and a curved beak shaped like a bird's beak with straps that held the beak in front of the doctor's nose. The mask had two small nose holes and was a type of respirator that contained aromatic items. The beak could also hold dried flowers, such as roses and carnations, herbs, camphor, or a vinegar sponge.
The costume was also worn by plague doctors during the Naples Plague of 1656, which killed 145,000 people in Rome and 300,000 in Naples. The clothing worn by plague doctors was intended to protect them from airborne diseases during outbreaks of the bubonic plague in Europe. The costume is often seen as a symbol of death and disease and has taken on sinister overtones due to its association with the plague.
The plague doctor costume has had a lasting impact on popular culture and has been featured in various forms of media, including Italian theatre and literature. The beaked plague doctor inspired costumes in Italian theater as a symbol of general horror and death. The costume is also associated with the commedia dell'arte character Il Medico della Peste ('The Plague Doctor'), who wears a distinctive plague doctor's mask.
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The masks were designed with glass eye openings and a curved beak
The plague doctor costume is often seen as a symbol of death and disease. The costume started to appear in the 17th century when physicians studied and treated plague patients. The costume consists of a leather hat, a mask with glass eyes and a beak, a stick to remove the clothes of a plague victim, gloves, a waxed linen robe, and boots.
The typical mask had glass openings for the eyes and a curved beak shaped like a bird's beak with straps that held the beak in front of the doctor's nose. The mask had two small nose holes and was a type of respirator that contained aromatic items. The beak could hold dried flowers (like roses and carnations), herbs (like lavender and peppermint), camphor, or a vinegar sponge, as well as juniper berry, ambergris, cloves, labdanum, myrrh, and storax. The herbs right up against the nose allowed the doctor to have both hands free to examine the patient or corpse.
The purpose of the mask was to keep away bad smells, such as the smell of decaying bodies. Doctors believed that the herbs would counter the "evil" smells of the plague and prevent them from becoming infected. The wide-brimmed leather hat indicated their profession, and doctors used wooden canes to point out areas needing attention and to examine patients without touching them.
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The costumes were originally worn by plague doctors in Italy and France
The costumes worn by plague doctors in Italy and France during the 17th century were designed to protect the wearer from airborne diseases during outbreaks of the bubonic plague. The costume, which consisted of a long, bird-like beak mask, an ankle-length overcoat, gloves, boots, a wide-brimmed hat, a linen hood, and an outer garment, was believed to purify the air breathed by the doctors by filling the mask with herbs and spices such as lavender, peppermint, and juniper berry. The wide-brimmed leather hat indicated their profession, and they often carried a wooden cane to examine patients without touching them and to point out areas that needed attention.
The exact origins of the plague doctor costume are unclear, but it is believed to have first appeared in Italy and France. The beaked mask was first mentioned in 1373 by Johannes Jacobi, who recommended its use but did not provide a physical description. The costume then appeared in satirical writings and political cartoons, inspiring costumes in Italian theatre as a symbol of horror and death. The first known observation of the herbal-stuffed beak was during the 1656-1658 epidemic in Rome.
The costume is often associated with a commedia dell'arte character called Il Medico della Peste ('The Plague Doctor'), who wears a distinctive plague doctor's mask. The Venetian mask was typically white, with a hollow beak and round eyeholes covered with clear glass. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the plague doctor costume grew in popularity due to its relevance to the pandemic.
The reason behind the beaked mask was the misconception that the plague was caused by poisoned or "evil" air, known as miasma. The masks were filled with fragrant herbs, flowers, and incense to counter the "evil" smells and protect the doctors from infection. However, despite their intimidating appearance, the strategies employed by early modern plague doctors had little impact on prolonging life, relieving suffering, or curing the disease.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, plague doctors put incense in their masks, along with other fragrant items like herbs, spices, and flowers.
Plague doctors believed that the plague was caused by "bad air" or "poisoned air" and that strong fragrances like incense would counter the evil smells of the plague and prevent them from becoming infected.
In addition to incense, plague doctors filled their masks with herbs such as lavender, peppermint, thyme, and rosemary, as well as flowers like roses and carnations.
No, the incense and other fragrant items in the masks did not protect plague doctors from the plague. While these items may have helped to mask the smell of decaying bodies, they did not provide any real protection against the disease.
The first known observation of the herbal-stuffed beak was during the 1656-1658 epidemic in Rome, but the practice of wearing masks may date back to as early as 1373.
