Himation

The Greek himation and his Roman equivalent, the pallium, were an ancient piece of clothing that fulfilled the function of a jacket.

Description and Use

When himation is a rectangular cloth coat, which could be draped in different ways. The himation was worn by men and women alike. Man it was mostly over the chiton, a tunic made ​​of thinner material. The himation was worn in many different ways. Typically the entire body is encased, while an arm remained uncovered. Women preferred to doing mostly over her head and wore it as a scarf, an end could be used as a veil.

History

Among the Romans this kind of fabric first in the 3rd century BC when philosophers and friends of Hellenism was popular, but was quickly spread as everyday dress over these circles addition, because it was easy and convenient to carry. It could be made of wool, linen or silk and also dyed in different colors, so white, various shades of red, yellow or black. In addition, it could be interwoven with gold or decorated with purple stripes. The pallium was worn over the tunic, to mostly found crepidae as footwear use. One possible form of support was that they led the pallium from the left shoulder across the back to the right shoulder and put on this. Was also possible that it was first placed over the left shoulder and then out across the back, was pulled under the right arm and then placed over the right arm or right shoulder. The counterpart in the clothing at the Roman women were generally the Palla, but from the literary tradition, the pallium also testified in women, goddesses and mythical queens and heroines. It was used until the 7th century.