A Day in Old Athens; a Picture of Athenian LifeDavis, William Stearns
History
A Day in Old Athens; a Picture of Athenian Life
Davis, William Stearns
Athens (Greece) -- Social life and customs
There is a third garment sometimes worn by Athenians. Young men who
wish to appear very active, and genuine travelers, also wear a
_chlamys_, a kind of circular mantle or cape which swings jauntily over
their shoulders, and will give good protection in foul weather.
There are almost no other masculine garments. No shirts (unless the
chiton be one), no underwear. In their costume, as in so many things
else, the Athenians exemplify their oft-praised virtue of simplicity.
35. The Dress of the Women.—The dress of the women is like that of the
men, but differs, of course, in complexity. They also have a
chiton,[*] which is more elaborately made, especially in the
arrangement of the blouse; and probably there is involved a certain
amount of real _sewing;_[+] not merely of _pinning_.
[*] This robe was sometimes known by the Homeric name of _peplos_.
[+] Probably with almost all Greek garments the main use of the needle
was in the embroidery merely, or in the darning of holes and rents. It
was by no means an essential in the real manufacture.
Greater care is needed in the adjustment of the “zone” (girdle), and
half sleeves are the rule with women, while full sleeves are not
unknown. A Greek lady again cannot imitate her husband, and appear in
public in her chiton only. A himation, deftly adjusted, is absolutely
indispensable whenever she shows herself outside the house.
These feminine garments are all, as a rule, more elaborately
embroidered, more adorned with fringes and tassels, than those of the
men. In arranging her dress the Athenian lady is not bound by the
rigid precepts of fashion. Every separate toilette is an opportunity
for a thousand little niceties and coquetries which she understands
exceedingly well. If there is the least excuse for an expedition
outside the house, her ladyship’s bevy of serving maids will have a
serious time of it. While their mistress cools herself with a huge
peacock-feather fan, one maid is busy over her hair; a second holds the
round metallic mirror before her; a third stands ready to extend the
jewel box whence she can select finger rings, earrings, gold armlets,
chains for her neck and hair, as well as the indispensable brooches
whereon the stability of the whole costume depends. When she rises to
have her himation draped around her, the directions she gives reveal
her whole bent and character. A dignified and modest matron will have
it folded loosely around her entire person, covering both arms and
hands, and even drawing it over her head, leaving eyes and nose barely
visible. Younger ladies will draw it close around the body so as to
show the fine lines of their waists and shoulders. And in the summer
heat the himation (for the less prudish) will become a light shawl
floating loose and free over the shoulders, or only a kind of veil
drawn so as to now conceal, now reveal, the face.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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