Zeus is known as the king of the gods in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter. Zeus is the son of Cronus, whom he overthrew. Together with his brothers Poseidon and Hades, Zeus drew lots to see who would rule Mount Olympus. Zeus won the draw, so he became the god of the sky while Poseidon became the god of the sea and Hades was sent to rule the underworld. If you want to rule on Halloween, go as Zeus. He's easily recognizable, and his costume is easy to make.
For Halloween or any other costume party, pulling your outfit idea from the past is always a safe choice. Whether it be an everyday citizen from another era or a famous historic figure, these costume ideas are fairly simple to make and are sure to generate a buzz. With so many options to choose from under the Greek theme, pulling your motivation from the Mediterranean is a good place to start.
Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom; patron goddess of household crafts, art and goddess of war. The Greek capital Athens is named after her. It is said she was born from the head of her father Zeus, king of all the gods. Athena is nearly always depicted in battle armor, with a shield, spear and helmet. Athena's helmet is typically depicted with a rounded, bulbous back that emphasizes the curve of the back of the head, perhaps symbolizing her extensive wisdom.
Whether for a toga party, Halloween or just for a fun night out, a Roman costume can spice things up. As a complex civilization covering hundreds of years and spanning continents, the Roman people provide many sources of inspiration. Everyone knows the traditional Roman costumes, but you can spice up your party with interesting and new takes on the classics.
If you want to look like a Roman goddess, it is best to be dressed as the number one goddess, Juno. She was the daughter of Saturn, the wife of Jupiter, and Mars was one of her children. She closely guarded the money of the city of Rome and the entire empire. Much of the costume is a toga made of white or purple fabric. Juno always wore a crown and was identified with peacock feathers which you can incorporate into your costume. Gold jewelry will complete the look.
Create a Roman emperor costume and be the leader of the toga party. This is also a good costume for a history or Latin class project, and it is essential if you are presenting Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar." The toga was a voluminous garment; to reproduce the look you will need a large piece of fabric. Two king-size sheets will create the proper effect. A plain undershirt is a good substitute for the tunic which would have been worn under the toga.
Julius Caesar was a Roman general who was born in 100 B.C. He acted as a governor of Gaul before returning to Rome and nominating himself as the Roman Empire's new dictator. Caesar appears as a character in many plays and movies and usually wears a toga and a crown made from gold leaves, both of which were common for Roman leaders to wear. A Julius Caesar costume is cheap and easy to make at home using bedsheets and a few other materials.
Ancient Roman culture borrowed a lot from ancient Greek culture, largely due to the close proximity of these Mediterranean civilizations. One of the most notable borrowed elements is Roman mythology, which is almost completely identical to Greek mythology, although the names of gods and goddesses are different. Rome also borrowed from Greek fashion, with the toga being the main form of dress for free citizens. Romans sometimes wore long tunics instead. Gods from Roman and Greek mythology are depicted wearing togas with slight variations in accessories and footwear. Greek dress implemented natural accessories, while Roman dress often featured gold embellishments.
Toga are as simple to make as knotting a white sheet over one shoulder, but dressing as a particular Greek goddess demands a classier costume. Create an Athena costume by featuring several of the subjects the goddess is associated with, such as wisdom, arts and crafts and chariots or war. Challenge other guests to guess your goddess based on the props you carry.
Hera is the Greek goddess who was considered the queen of the Olympic pantheon. According to Encyclopedia Mythica, Hera was the wife of Zeus, "Hera was mainly worshiped as a goddess of marriage and birth" even though she was represented as a jealous women who was constantly punishing her husband's consorts and their offspring. Hera is most often seen as a stately, majestic woman, so any costume representing her should reflect her important status.
With a little bit of fabric and a only little bit of time, you can make your own Greek costume. This costume can be worn for Halloween parties, theme parties or even college parties. A little imagination goes a long way, so don't be afraid to play around with the styles and colors of your fabric. Accessorize for fun and you'll be the hit of any party.
Greek costumes are popular for two main reasons. First, toga parties at fraternities and sororities will never go out of style. And second, Greek costumes are really easy to make. It's possible to make a costume that works on both males and females with only bed sheets and safety pins, although obviously, depending on how much time you have, you can fancy it up as much as you want.
Greek goddess costumes are easy to make when pairing flowing dress with belts, robes, beads and chains. Use lots of color when putting together a Greek goddess outfit with information from a drama production designer in this free video on costumes.