Costumes of Ancient Rome

Clothing is a very important element in the human history. It reflects the culture and traditions of the Place. Roman clothing is very similar to that of ancient Greece, although it had different forms of its own. During the ancient period the clothes needed to be simple. One reason for it was also the limited cloth material. There was only Wool and to some extent linen. No other cloth material was available at that time. The Toga, the Stola, the Tunic and brooches were worn by the people in Ancient Rome.

UNDERWEAR

A simple loin cloth knotted on each side was used by men as undergarment. They were available in different shapes due to which they had different names. Some of the names were subligar, subligaculum, cintus, campestre and licium.

The women used to tightly tie brassiere in the form of a band around the body, either across the bust or under the bust. The under clothing is known as fascia and over clothing as strophium, cingulum, mammillare. The undergarments were generally made of linen.

THE TUNIC

     

                                                                            

The tunic was the most basic garment in the Roman clothing. For most Romans and slaves it would be the entire clothing they dressed in before stepping foot outdoors.

The length of the tunics form male would generally reach to the knees and for women it would be longer. Females also had long sleeves often.

During the cold weather, they would generally wear 2 or 3 tunics to keep them warm. So, the tunic nearest their body functioned like a vest and was called subucula and then the next layer would be intusium or supparus.

THE TOGA

               

                                

Only the free Roman citizens were allowed to wear a Toga. No one else could appear in the public wearing a Toga, not even the Foreigners or exiled citizens.

The Toga was like a large blanket, draped over the body leaving one arm free. Few historians after their research have stated that the cloth for a Toga took the form of a semi-circle. It usually spanned between 2 ½ and 3 meters long and at its widest point upto 2 meters wide. Sometimes lead weights were sewn into the hem to keep the Toga in place.

It was generally made of wool. The rich had a choice of what type of wool they wanted to wear. 

WOMEN’S CLOTHING

                                                                           

There were few restrictions on women’s for clothing by laws, traditions and customs. The female garment was known as the Stola. It could be of any colour. It was a long tunic reaching to the ground with long or short sleeves or could also be sleeveless.

It was generally worn over another long tunic called the tunica interior.

CHILDREN

Children used to wear simple belted tunics specially those not borne to rich families. They also wore an amulet called the bulla. Boys would wear it until they reach their manhood (generally around the age of 16) and girls would wear it until they got married.

FOOTWEAR

 

There was not much difference between male and female footwear. There were different types of footwear:

Sandals also called soleae, crepidae or sandalia. These were usually indoor footwear. It was considered improper to be seen in public wearing these sandals outdoors.

A pair of slippers called the socci. These were also meant for indoor use.

The Pero was a simple piece of leather wrapped around the foot.

The Caliga was the hob-nailed military boot/sandal.

The Sculponea was a wooden clog which was worn only by poor peasants and slaves.