vestimenta Romana - Kent City School District

vestimenta Romana
vestimentum, -i, n.: garments, robes, clothing
Monday, September 28, 2009
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vestimenta Romana
clothing was one of the most important aspects of Roman
culture
social status or societal position was reflected in what a Roman
man or woman wore
from the lower class tunica to the official toga praetexta clothing
was just as functional as it was fashionable
How is clothing used to indicate one’s position in society
today? Is this taken seriously in America today?
Monday, September 28, 2009
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ara pacis divi Augusti
the ara pacis (Alter of Peace) built to honor the Pax Romana of
Augustus shows a formal procession where we see men, women
and children dressed in their nicest togae.
note the flowing nature of the clothing and the grandeur and
elegance of the procession.
clothing, like today, was just as much a part of the spectacle of
formal affairs during Roman times.
what did Roman men wear?
Monday, September 28, 2009
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vestimenta virorum
the toga was the “national Roman” garment of the time
the privilege of wearing togae was reserved to Roman citizens
alone. No matter how wealthy or the position of non-Romans,
they were not permitted to wear this garment.
when a Senator was condemned to some sort of punishment
for a crime committed, it was said that the worst part of the
punishment was the stripping of his toga
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vestimenta virorum
the toga, in early Rome was considered to be a formal garment
worn only in official capacities or during special affairs.
later it became the daily outfit for those of the equestrian or
senatorial orders.
what was it like to wear a toga?
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toga Romana
togae were very hot garments. They were clumsy and very hard
to wear for those not used to them
the material was almost always an immense sheet of wool
reaching up to four yards in length
togae were originally natural in color but colors changed over
time
they were very hard to put on without the assistance of a slave
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toga praetexta
formal garment worn by boys until an age around sixteen
featured a broad purple border that was woven first, thus the
word praetexta
usually worn with a bu"a - an ornament worn around the neck
by children. This differentiated the praetexta from its later use
later became the standard garment for curile magistrates,
those involved in sacred orders
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toga virilis
toga of manhood received by Roman boys around age sixteen
when their fathers judged them to be mature
the assumption of the toga virilis was the final act in a very
formal coming-of-age ceremony
most standard toga worn by Roman men
off-white in color and made of wool
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toga picta
worn only by the highest officials, Emperors or those presiding
over games
a Roman dictator or highly decorated and victorious general
would have the opportunity to wear the toga picta upon reentering the city during a triumphal procession
this toga was usually purple and embroidered with gold, though
at times, especially during the triumphal procession, it may
have been blue or green (colors representative of Iuppiter)
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toga pulla
worn as a garment of mourning at either a funeral or at a time
when there was certain calamity
dyed with dark colors: black or brown but not always these
colors alone
one would also wear the toga pu"a at such a time when he/she
was a defendant in a lawsuit or other court case
what did Romans wear at home or when it was not necessary
to wear a toga?
Monday, September 28, 2009
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tunica Romana
but what about Roman women?
when indoors or in more casual atmospheres, most Romans
stripped off their togae and opted for the much cooler, lighter
tunica, which was worn under the toga
Greek in origin and worn by both men and women
long “shirt” sewn together with holes for arms and head,
sometimes sleeveless, drawn up at waist and bound with a belt
various specialized tunicae with colored stripes indicated that
one came from a higher class in society
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stola
long, floor-length “dress” worn over one or both shoulders
often worn over top of an inner tunica
not sewn together but held together by a series of fibulae
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palla
stolae Romanae were usually accessorized by a pa"a, which was
much like a shawl
made of much lighter material than the wool used to make
togae or tunicae
made with many colors, sizes and patterns
typically worn by older, married women
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caligae / soleae
shoes worn by all Romans
some open-toed, others used leather straps to cover toes
women wore soleae in lighter colors, sometimes decorated with
various gems or strap styles
Roman soldiers (especially in northern territories) wore caligae
with wool socks
some caligae featured studded bottoms to provide traction
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end
finis
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