Story highlights Although closely associated with Muslim women, religious veils have a long and varied history

St. Paul, for example, instructed women to cover their heads

Abed Awad is an attorney, a national Islamic law expert and an adjunct law professor at Rutgers School of Law and Pace Law School.

(CNN) Last week, the Supreme Court upheld the right of a Muslim woman who applied for a job at Abercrombie & Fitch to wear a head covering. Although veils have become strongly identified with Muslims, as an article of faith -- and clothing -- they have a long and surprising history across cultural traditions.

Here are five things you might not know about religious head coverings.

1. In Mediterranean societies, rich and classy women wore veils.

Assyrian law required free women to cover their heads in public. Prostitutes and slave women were prohibited from veiling. Greek and Persian society had similar requirements. Zoroastrian free women, for example, wore full body coverings and headdresses.

2. Some Jewish traditions consider a woman's hair too sexy

Read More