November 22nd, 2022

Ancient Mesopotamia (8000-2000 B.C.E)

It was during this time that the art of making clothing moved from animal skins to making cloth through pounding and weaving the hairs of animals. The most widely used fabric was wool, used for everything from cloaks to shoes. However linen was used for the wealthy,  the priests, or to adorn statues of deities. Soft cotton and silk were introduced to the Mesopotamians much later. Although no pieces of clothing have colour left, it is found in letters and documents that dyes, embroidery, and beads were used on their clothing to embellish and beautify their pieces. 

In early Mesopotamia, the Sumarians wore waist strings or small loincloths that barely covered anything. It wasn’t until later that the Sumarians discovered the wraparound skirt. This piece went to about the knee and was held up by a rounded belt that tied around the back. Babylonians wore garments similar to Sumarians, for example skirts and shawls; however the fringes became much more elaborate. The Assyrians had the whole body was covered. Both men and women wore fringed shawls which were wrapped around their shoulders, and a similar garment wrapped around their waist which was held in place by a belt. By the end of the Assyrian rule, men had taken to wearing knee-length tunics with short sleeves tied with a belt. In 612 B.C.E, when the Assyerians were conquered by the Persian Empire, Mesopotamians adopted Persian clothing, and new pieces like the trousers were introduced. 

Ancient Mesopotamian Clothing, Photo from https://www.quora.com/What-did-the-ancient-Mesopotamians-wear-I-mean-what-kind-of-cloth-and-what-color-was-it 

Ancient Egypt (3100-332 B.C.E)

Like Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Egyptians wore wrapped around pieces of linen or loincloths. A kilt, a rectangular piece of linen, was worn by men and wrapped around the entire body and tied around the waist with a sash, the wealthy adoring these with beads, amulets, or bracelets. For women, a sheath of linen was worn to form a wraparound dress, and was bejeweled by the wealthy. Sandals were worn and made out of papyrus, vegetables, or leather; however men and women, wealthy or not, were often portrayed barefoot. 

Both men and women wore makeup, particularly royalty. All sexes wore oils, perfumes, and eye and facial paints made from mineral pigments, the most common practice being to outline the eye lids with black kohl. Jewelry was also worn as a symbol of status and self adornment. Jewelry like bracelets, amulets, necklaces, earrings, rings, and belt buckles were made from gold and silver and inlaid with stones like lapis lazuli and amethyst. Jewelry, at its pinnacle, reflected Egyptian religion or religious themes. Images depicted gods, goddesses, hieroglyphical symbols like birds, animals, and insects; and plants.

Ancient Egyptian Clothing, Photo from https://eng.majalla.com/node/197831/culturewhat-did-ancient-egyptians-wear-winter 

Ancient Greece (1200-323 B.C.E)

Greek paintings and vases called terra-cotta oinochoe depict that Greek clothing was brightly coloured and fabrics were elaborately designed; the first civilization to add design into fabrics. Clothing, which was homemade, was a very versatile and homespun piece of fabric that was used as a garment, shroud, or blanket. Clothing for women in Ancient Greece consisted of a large rectangular piece of heavy fabric which was folded and pinned at the shoulder with a pin or broach called a peplos. Another piece, called a chiton, was identical to the peplos except for the fabric being lighter, usually imported linen, and was cinched at the waist. Both the peplos and chiton were long enough to create a kolpos, a pouch created from pulling the fabric of the garment over the belt. Women would often wear what is called strophion which was a soft band under the garment that went around the midsection of the body. Men in Ancient Greece wore a garment similar to the female chiton, however it fell around knee-length. For exercise, horse riding, or hard labour a garment called the exomis was worn. It consisted of a short chiton that was fastened at the left shoulder.  

Both men and women wore a shawl type garment over the peplos or chiton called an epiblema, and men wore a similar garment called a chlamys for riding. Hats were worn by both men and women; men a broad-brimmed hat called a petasos and women a flat-brimmed hat with a high peaked crown. Footwear consisted of sandals, slippers, boots, or soft shoes despite, like the Ancient Egyptians, barefoot being the most common. 

Ancient Greek Clothing, Photo from https://world4.eu/greek-doric/ 

Ancient Rome (625 B.C.E-476 B.C)

In Ancient Rome, clothing was made out of mostly wool; a fabric made and easily accessible in Italy at the time. Other fabrics were less common and had to be imported from other countries; fabrics like linen from Egypt, cotton from India, or silk from China. Colour wise, Roman clothing was white however when a woman married she would wear many different colours to symbolize her status as a married woman. Romans would wear close toed shoes called calcei and open toed shoes, a cross between a sandal and shoe, called crepida; all shoes were made out of leather. Romans did wear jewelry, wealthy women wearing earrings, necklaces, tiaras, and bracelets and men of all classes wearing rings. 

Mens clothing consisted of tunics, togas, and cloaks. Tunics were a rectangular piece of fabric that varied in length, anywhere between the knee to ankle, and was tied around the waist with a belt; very similar to the Ancient Greeks. Togas, a very heavy and uncomfortable garment, was a large piece of fabric around 18 feet long and 6 feet wide that was draped and wrapped around the body according to the latest style. Cloaks were a heavy garment that was worn to protect the wearer against harsh weather. 

Like men, womens clothing consisted of tunics and cloaks, however only women would wear a garment called a stola. A womens tunic was similar to a men’s other than the fact that it was longer and fell to at least the ankle, sometimes longer. The cloak was worn over a tunic and stola but, unlike mens, was pinned with brooches. Stolas were worn by married women and was a long pleated dress held in place by belts, the dress being decorated with colours and ribbons.

Ancient Roman Clothing, Photo from https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/roman-clothing 

 

By Caite Racicot

Categories: Fashion