Step back in time to ancient Greece and you’ll find a world of philosophers, poets, and thinkers.
One of the most famous of these is Aristotle, known for his contributions to science, philosophy, and politics. But have you ever wondered what he wore?
In this article, we’ll explore the clothing of ancient Greece and take a closer look at the attire of this great thinker. From tunics to cloaks, we’ll delve into the world of ancient Greek fashion and discover what made it so unique.
So grab your himation and join us on a journey through time to uncover the secrets of Aristotle’s wardrobe.
What Did Aristotle Wear
When it comes to the clothing of ancient Greece, there were a few key pieces that were worn by both men and women. These included the chiton, peplos, himation, and chlamys.
The chiton was a simple tunic made of linen or wool, and it was worn by both sexes. The peplos was a garment worn mainly by women over a chiton or instead of one. The himation was a larger outer garment worn as a long cape or cloak by both sexes. Finally, the chlamys was an outer garment used as a short cape or cloak, primarily worn by men.
So what did Aristotle wear? In the painting that depicts him, he is shown wearing an odd combination of a wide-brimmed hat, a white tunic, and a dark apron-like garment adorned with a gold chain, earrings, and a pinky ring. His clothes don’t seem to belong to any particular period, and they are quite different from the more traditional toga-clad approach found in other depictions of ancient Greek scholars.
It’s important to note that clothing in ancient Greece was primarily based on necessity, function, materials, and protection rather than identity. Clothes were simple, draped, loose-fitting, and free-flowing. They were generally homemade and cut to various lengths of rectangular linen or wool fabric with minimal cutting or sewing, secured with ornamental clasps or pins, and a belt or girdle.
Clothing In Ancient Greece
Clothing in ancient Greece was mainly made of natural fibers such as linen and wool, with linen being the most common fabric due to the hot climate that lasted most of the year. Dyed clothing was more expensive and only available to the wealthy, who would wear brightly colored clothes to express their wealth. However, lower-class citizens usually wore plain white or neutral-colored clothes, sometimes incorporating decorative borders.
Both men and women wore two main pieces of clothing: an undergarment (chiton or peplos) and a cloak (himation or chlamys). The chiton was a long, wide rectangle of fabric sewn up at the sides and pinned or sewn at the shoulders, while the peplos was a large rectangle of heavy fabric folded over along the upper edge and fastened at the shoulders with a pin or brooch. The himation was a rectangular piece of heavy fabric draped diagonally over one shoulder or symmetrically over both shoulders, while the chlamys was an outer garment used as a short cape or cloak, primarily worn by men.
Clothes were generally homemade or locally made, and pieces were interchangeable between men and women. Clothing was cut to various lengths of rectangular linen or wool fabric with minimal cutting or sewing, secured with ornamental clasps or pins, and a belt or girdle. Women usually wore their robes to their ankles while men generally wore theirs to their knees depending on the occasion and circumstance.
In antiquity, clothing was usually homemade, and the same piece of homespun fabric could serve as a garment, shroud, or blanket. Greek vase painting and traces of paint on ancient sculptures indicate that fabrics were brightly colored and generally decorated with elaborate designs. Clothing for both women and men consisted of two main garments—a tunic (either a peplos or chiton) and a cloak (himation).
The Importance Of Clothing In Greek Society
Clothing played a crucial role in ancient Greek society, serving both practical and symbolic purposes. The ease of manipulating cloth into a garment meant that a single piece of fabric could be used multiple times to create different outfits. Clothing was generally homemade or locally made, and pieces were interchangeable between men and women. However, women usually wore their robes to their ankles while men generally wore theirs to their knees depending on the occasion and circumstance.
Clothing also served as a means of communication, signaling social identities like gender, status, and ethnicity. Nobles wore bright colors to express their wealth as dyed clothing was more expensive. Additionally, clothing was used to decorate the body and signal the status of a woman. Elite women broke social norms and cultivated independence of thought by expressing their creativity through garments, jewelry, hairstyles, and cosmetics.
Aristotle’s Clothing: What We Know
While we may not have a clear depiction of what Aristotle wore, we do know some general information about the clothing of the time. Clothing was typically made out of natural fibers, with linen being the most common fabric due to the hot climate which lasted most of the year. On the rare occasion of colder weather, ancient Greeks wore wool. Common clothing of the time was plain white or neutral-colored, sometimes incorporating decorative borders.
Noble citizens, however, wore bright colors to express their wealth as dyed clothing was more expensive. Purple was a particularly popular color as it was the most expensive dye to obtain. It’s possible that Aristotle, being a wealthy and influential philosopher, may have worn brightly colored clothing as a sign of his status.
The clothing for both men and women generally consisted of two main parts: a tunic and a cloak. The tunic was typically made of two different styles, Doric and Ionic, and could be worn by both sexes. The cloak or himation was a larger outer garment worn as a long cape or cloak by both sexes. It’s possible that Aristotle may have worn a similar outfit with a tunic and cloak.
Finally, it’s important to note that clothing in ancient Greece was often manipulated into different styles and shapes using pins, buttons, or brooches to hold them in place. This allowed for a single piece of fabric to be used multiple times to create different outfits. It’s possible that Aristotle may have had his own unique style and way of wearing his clothing that differed from others at the time.
The Tunics And Cloaks Of Ancient Greece
The chiton and himation were the two main parts of clothing for both men and women in ancient Greece. The chiton was a tunic of two different styles, Doric and Ionic, and was worn by both sexes. It was made of linen or wool and was a simple garment that could be draped over the body in various ways. The himation, on the other hand, was a larger outer garment worn as a long cape or cloak by both sexes. It was typically made of wool and could be worn in various styles, such as draped over one shoulder or wrapped around the body.
The chlamys was another outer garment used as a short cape or cloak, primarily worn by men. It was made of wool and was often decorated with a border. The peplos was a garment worn mainly by women over a chiton or instead of one. It was typically made of wool and draped over the body in various ways.
All of these garments were uncut, unsewn pieces of cloth that were arranged on a person in different ways to produce different effects. They were fastened with pins, buttons, or brooches to hold them in place. The ease of manipulating the cloth into a garment meant one could use a single piece of fabric multiple times to create different outfits.
It’s worth noting that while clothing in ancient Greece was mainly based on necessity and function, there is evidence of elaborate design and bright colors among the nobility. Dyed clothing was more expensive, so bright colors were used to express wealth. However, plain white or neutral-colored clothing incorporating decorative borders was more common among lower-class citizens.
Materials And Colors Used In Ancient Greek Clothing
Ancient Greeks primarily used natural fibers to make their clothing. Linen was the most common fabric due to the hot climate that lasted most of the year, while wool was reserved for the rare occasion of colder weather. The upper class had access to more expensive materials such as cotton and silk.
The clothes of the upper class were brightly colored, even if only along the borders, and purple was a popular color as a sign of wealth and money. Dyed clothing and garments decorated with prints and weights at the bottom were also reserved for the wealthy. However, lower-class citizens generally wore plain white or neutral-colored clothes.
Although there is evidence of elaborate designs and bright colors in ancient Greek clothing, they were less common among lower-class citizens. This is because dyed clothing was more expensive, and noble citizens wore bright colors to express their wealth. The use of blue pigment was not evident in the Archaic Period, but purple was still popular, and many other colors were regularly used.
The Evolution Of Ancient Greek Fashion
The evolution of ancient Greek fashion can be traced back to the Minoan Civilization of Crete (2000-1450 BCE) through the Mycenean Civilization (1700-1100 BCE), Archaic Period (8th century to c. 480 BCE) and is most recognizable from the Classical Period (c. 480-323 BCE). During the Minoan Period, upper-class men of the court dressed primarily in loincloths, a cloak, sandals, and sometimes a headpiece while women were more completely covered save for the breasts which were exposed. The Mycenean fashion sense was influenced by the Minoan, but during the Archaic Period, clothing was simplified and remained so through the Classical Period.
Clothing for both women and men consisted of two main garments – a tunic (either a peplos or chiton) and a cloak (himation). The peplos was simply a large rectangle of heavy fabric, usually wool, folded over along the upper edge so that the overfold (apoptygma) would reach to the waist. It was placed around the body and fastened at the shoulders with a pin or brooch. Openings for armholes were left on each side, and the open side of the garment was either left that way or pinned or sewn to form a seam. The chiton was made of a much lighter material, usually imported linen. It was a very long and very wide rectangle of fabric sewn up at the sides, pinned or sewn at the shoulders, and usually girded around the waist.
Both men and women wore sandals, slippers, soft shoes, or boots, although at home they usually went barefoot. The Greeks had a great appreciation for the human body, and it was shown in their fashion. The fabric was expertly draped around the body, and the cloth could be slightly transparent. Males had no problem with nudity, while women could only be naked in the public bath. They typically wore purple as a sign of wealth and money as it was the most expensive dye to get hold of.
In conclusion, ancient Greek fashion evolved over time, but it was primarily based on necessity, function, materials, and protection rather than identity. Clothes were simple, draped, loose-fitting, and free-flowing. The clothing for both men and women generally consisted of two main parts: a tunic and a cloak. They didn’t start sewing and making actual clothes until the 4th century. The Greeks had a great appreciation for the human body, and it was shown in their fashion. The fabric was expertly draped around the body, and the cloth could be slightly transparent.
