The following passages about “crowns” refer to wreaths made of flowers, laurel leaves, or other materials, worn on various occasions by pagans and also used to adorn various objects.
It is unfit for a man of temperance to adorn himself with “a crown woven from the fresh mead,” and to wear it at home. For it is not suitable to fill the loose hair with rose-leaves, violets, lilies, or other such flowers. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.255
How, then, will I crown myself, anoint with ointment, or offer incense to the Lord? It is said, “An odor of a sweet fragrance is the heart that glorifies Him who made it” [Ps. 51:17]. Such hearts are the crowns and sacrifices, aromatic odors, and flowers of God. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.293
[ADDRESSED TO PAGANS:] I do not buy a crown for my head. Yet, what concern is it of yours how I use them—if nevertheless I purchase the flowers? Tertullian (c. 197, W), 3.49
The tribune at once put the question to the Christian, “Why are you so different in your attire?” He declared that he had no liberty to wear the crown with the rest. Tertullian (c. 211, W), 3.93
In short, what patriarch, what prophet, what Levite, what priest, or what leader—or at a later period, what apostle, preacher of the gospel, or bishop—do you ever find wearing a crown? I do not think that even the temple of God itself was crowned. Neither was the ark of the covenant, nor the tabernacle of witness. Tertullian (c. 211, W), 3.98
Marriage, too, decks the [pagan] bridegroom with its crown. Therefore, we will not have pagan brides, lest they seduce us even to the idolatry with which marriage is initiated among them. Tertullian (c. 212, W), 3.101
Much less may the Christian put the service of idolatry on his own head . . . since Christ is the head of the Christian man. . . . But even the head that is bound to have the veil, I mean woman’s head, . . . is not open also to a wreath. She has the burden of her own humility to bear. If she should not appear with her head uncovered on account of the angels, how much more—by wearing a crown on it—will she offend those who are perhaps already wearing crowns above. Tertullian (c. 212, W), 3.102
[PAGAN ANTAGONIST, SPEAKING OF CHRISTIANS:] You do not wreath your heads with flowers. Mark Minucius Felix (c. 200, W), 4.179
Pardon us that we do not crown our heads. We are accustomed to receive the scent of a sweet flower in our nostrils, not to inhale it with the back of our heads or with our hair. Nor do we crown the dead. Mark Minucius Felix (c. 200, W), 4.197