Ancient Greek Clothing

Throughout ancient history, clothing styles have varied based off of different cultures, many using what was available to them at this time. Often clothing was constructed simply and somewhat efficiently— unless in the upper class— out materials such as wool and linen which is made from flax. Everything was pieced together by hand and in most cultures the fabric was dyed through the use of vegetable roots and the like. In this paper, five different cultures— Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Celtic, and the vikings— will be compared by their clothing styles. The Egyptians were well known for their use of linen and cotton due to their harsh and very warm climate; although Pharaohs and Priests sometimes incorporated animal skins— such as leopard—,

The fabrics that the Greeks used for their clothing were sometimes spun in the home (often into a heavy wool material), or made from linen fabric that was imported. Like the Egyptians, the Greek outfits usually consisted of a long rectangular piece of fabric, pins used for fastening, and occasionally hats or shoes; the fabric was pinned at the sides, the shoulders and then tied with a belt. The fabric was also dyed bright colors and decorated with ornate patterns. A Chiton was a long tunic worn by men typically made out of linen and it, like the Kalasiris, could be draped over one or both shoulders. When it was draped over one shoulder, usually the left, it was known as an exomie. This type of chiton was usually worn for horseback riding, work, or exercise. Women typically wore a peplos (or peplum) — a type of tunic usually made from a heavier wool material— which was made from a large rectangular piece of fabric, and could be draped and fastened (with buttons, pins, or brooches) in different ways to reflect different styles. A peplos was worn as a full-length garment, because a proper Greek woman did not show a lot of skin regardless of the hot summer months. In colder weather, Greeks wore a cloak over their tunics for warmth, known as a himation which was usually made of wool, and fashioned from a rectangular piece of cloth that was draped similarly to a Roman toga. It served a dual purpose, especially for men as it could also serve as a warm blanket on a cold winter night. Other types of cloaks worn by the Greeks included the epiblema, a shawl worn by Greek women, and the chlamys, a short cloak worn by young Greek males. Most of the time both men and women were barefoot. A Greek man sometimes wore a petasos, a wide-brimmed hat that helped to