For that reason they were also called "melanophoroi" or "mavrophoroi" ("Black-wearers").[2] The Sacred Band uniform consisted of a long tunic, spatter dash and tall headgear, that according to Konstantinos Rados' description the headgear was similar to that of the Hussars. The headgear had a white plume and a tricolor (red, white, cyan) national coat of arms. Under this (frontally) there was a skull with 2 crossed bones of white metal, which was meaning Freedom or Death.[1] A Sacred Band's member had a spearman rifle and a leather belt for the "palaska" (cartridge belt).