Chapter VI. Athenian Costume.




33. The General Nature of Greek Dress.--In every age the important
kingdom of dress has been reserved for the peculiar sovereignty of
woman. This is true in Athens, though not perhaps to the extent of
later ages. Still an Athenian lady will take an interest in "purple
and fine linen" far exceeding that of her husband, and where is there
a more fitting place than this in which to answer for an Athenian,
the ever important question "wherewithal shall I be clothed"?

Once again the Athenian climate comes in as a factor, this time
in the problem of wardrobe. Two general styles of garment have
divided the allegiance of the world,--the clothes that are PUT ON
and the clothes that are WRAPPED AROUND. The former style, with
its jackets, trousers, and leggings, is not absolutely unknown to
the Athenians,--their old enemies, the Persians, wear these[*];
but such clumsy, inelegant garments are despised and ridiculed as
fit only for the "Barbarians" who use them. They are not merely
absurdly homely; they cannot even be thrown off promptly in an
emergency, leaving the glorious human form free to put forth any
noble effort. The Athenians wear the wrapped style of garments,
which are, in final analysis, one or two large square pieces of cloth