Torc

A torc, rarely spelled torque (from Latin 'torques', 'torqueo', wrap) is a rigid necklace worn since the Bronze Age, ca. 1000 BC, until early centuries AC. The Galatians (Celts who dwelled in Anatolia), Scythians and Persians wore it, but it is known principally as the typical Celtic necklace worn especially by Britons, Gauls and Iberians.

It was said by some authors that this neck-ring was an ornament for women until the 4th Century BC when it became an attribute of warriors, but most authors disagree saying that it was a sign of nobility and high social status, a decoration for warriors as their prize for their deeds in battle, and a divine attribute since some depictions of Celtic gods wear a torc or more than one; there were found figures of the god Cernunnos wearing only one torc around his neck, with torcs holding from his antlers, or keeping one in his hand. In the sense of a decoration, it was mentioned the case of Celtic warriors that had also more than one torc. In the tombs of Celtic princes were found some of these ornaments.

The Roman consul Titus Manlius once challenged a Gaul to single combat killing him, and then took his torc. As he wore it always the nickname Torquatus (that who wears a torc) was given to him. After this Romans adopted the torc as a decoration for distinguished soldiers and elite units since Republican times.

Torcs have a circular shape with open ends, frequently ended with globes, cubes, animal heads, and less commonly human figures. The body of the necklace was most times but not always wrapped. The peculiarity of the torc is that the open ends have to be put on the chest and not on the nape. Although they were said to be neck-rings, there were also bracelets with this shape. Torcs were made in gold or bronze, and less frequently in silver.

The hippie movement, in the 1960s and 1970s put the torc again on fashion, not only as necklaces and bracelets, but also as rings. It is common today the use of the bracelet both by men and women.

In body piercing this shape is popularly worn in ears, nipples, navels and other parts of the body.