Types of Ancient Roman Clothing
Much like today, ancient Romans, especially men, wore clothing as a way of displaying social status. At the time when Rome dominated much of Europe and the Middle East, men wore such distinctive clothing that an average Roman could tell a soldier from a slave just by looking at his tunic.
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Male Social Status
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The ancient Roman man probably placed more emphasis on social status than any contemporary socialite. The higher a man's status, the more ornate his clothing. For example, a Roman citizen wore a "toga" while his slave wore a plain tunic. Men of the highest social classes in Rome, such as equestrians and senators, decorated their tunics with two purple-crimson stripes running from the shoulder to the hem. The thicker the stripe, the higher the status.
Men's Clothing
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The basic garment worn by every man, from the lowly slave to the emperor, was a simple woolen tunic. It consisted of two pieces of undyed cloth sewn together along the sides and shoulders with openings for the head and arms. A Roman citizen wore his tunic belted so it fell to his knees. A working man hitched up his tunic around his thighs for freer movement. Only male citizens wore togas over their tunics. It consisted of a single woolen cloth carefully draped around the body. The color reflected the wearer's status. Ordinary citizens wore togas of undyed wool. A man in mourning wore a dark wool. Victorious generals and emperors wore purple embroidered with gold thread.
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Women's Clothing
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Women's clothing was less distinctive than men's. Often the only way to tell a aristocratic matron from a laborer's wife was by her more elaborate hairstyle and jewelry. A woman's basic garment was one of two styles of long, full tunics. The "pelos" consisted of two pieces of cloth partially sewn together at the sides, folded down in front and back and pinned it at the shoulders. It was worn with a belt at the waist. The "chiton" consisted of two large pieces of cloth sewn together almost to the top, fastened with pins across the shoulders and accessorized with a belt. Many married woman wore an outer tunic called a "stola" as a sign of marital status. Before going outside, respectable women loosely draped a cloak called a "palla" over their torsos and shoulders.
Undergarments
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Romans wore simple underwear. Both men and women wore a loincloth called a "subligar" or "subligaculum." Women wore these garments all day. Laborers wore theirs while working, and it is believed upper-class men wore theirs only at the gym. Women also wore a forerunner of the bra called a "strophium" or "mamillare," which consisted of a leather or cloth band wrapped around the breasts.
Military Clothing
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The legionary shown here wears a "lorica segmentata." The legionaries who built Rome's empire with their blood and sweat wore tunics similar to those worn by civilians but cut slightly shorter. In battle they wore body armor made of iron plates called a "lorica segmentata" or a mail shirt called a "lorica hamata," an iron helmet and sturdy leather sandals called "caligae." When not in armor, men were distinguished as soldiers by ornate belts and iron-studded aprons.
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References
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