Miscellaneous Greek and Roman terms
Abolla: A large, loose woolen cloak or mantle usually worn by soldiers. Roman. Plural: Abollae.
Accubitoria: See - Synthesis.
Alicula: Possibly a similar garment to the chlamys. In Greek, it was called an allix/ἄλλιξ, allex/ἄλληξ, allika/ἄλλικα or eneteisi/ἐνετῇσι. Greek and Roman. Plural: Aliculae.
Allex/ἄλληξ: See - Alicula.
Allika/ἄλλικα: See - Alicula.
Allix/ἄλλιξ: See - Alicula.
Birrus: A cape or hood for outdoor wear, usually made of sheep's or beaver's wool. It was worn by the poor into the Middle Ages. Roman and Medieval.
Causia/καυσία: A broad-brimmed felt hat worn by Macedonian kings and later adopted by Roman emperors in imitation of Alexander the Great. In surviving images, the brim appears to have been upturned. Macedonian and Roman.
Cheirides/χειρίδες: See - Manica.
Chlaina/χλαῖνα: See - Chlamys/χλαμύς.
Chlamys/χλαμύς: An oblong scarf worn by usually worn by men, although Diana/Artemis is often depicted wearing a masculine one while hunting (usually pulled over one shoulder and twisted around her waist). Women's chlamydes were decorated with a border. Also called a chlaina/χλαῖνα. Greek and Roman (to some extent). Plural: Chlamydes/χλᾰμύδες.
Chlamys ephebike/χλαμύς ἐφηβικὴ: A yellow or saffron chlamys. Greek and Roman (to some extent).
Chlamys stratiotike/χλαμύς στρατιωτικὴ: A scarlet chlamys. Greek and Roman (to some extent).
Clavus angustus: Two narrow purple stripes extending vertically down the front of a garment. Roman.
Clavus latus: A broad purple stripe extending vertically down the front of a garment. Roman.
Coenatoria: See - Synthesis.
Cucullus: A cowl associated with shepherds, but also worn by people of high rank when they wished to travel without being recognized. Roman. Plural: Cuculli.
Cunabula: See - Incunabula.
Cyclas: A round women's robe made out of thin cloth and edged on the bottom in gilt. It was considered extremely luxurious, enough that Alexander Severus decreed that women were limited to one cyclas each. It appears to have been worn into the late Middle Ages by men. In Greek, it was called a kuklas/κυκλάς. Greek, Roman and Medieval.
Eneteisi/ἐνετῇσι: See - Alicula.
Flammeum: A bride's veil, apparently dyed a deep yellow. Roman. Plural: Flammea.
Incunabula: Swaddling clothes. Also called cunabula or sparganon/σπάργανον. Greek and Roman. Plural form of incunabulum.
Instita: A broad flounce sewn to the bottom hem of a matron's tunic, meant to give off an air of decency. Some may have been decorated in the manner of the more expensive cyclas. Also called a peripodion/περιπόδιον. Roman. Plural: Institae.
Kalyptra/καλύπτρα: See - Velum.
Kuklas/κυκλάς: See - Cyclas. Plural: Kyklades/Κυκλάδες.
Lacerna: A cloak worn over the toga - wrapped around the upper body and fastened on one shoulder with a buckle (fibula). It is said to have usually been a dark color. Also called a munimentum togae, mandyas/μανδύας, mandye/μανδύη. Greek and Roman. Plural: Lacernae.
Laena: A thick cloak with shaggy sides worn over the pallium or toga for warmth. Greek and Roman.
Mandyas/μανδύας: See - Lacerna. Plural: Mandyes/μανδύες.
Mandye/μανδύη: See - Lacerna.
Manica: A sleeve which was worn as a separate garment. (Sleeves sewn to a garment were called chiridota or manicata tunica.) Palladius says that farmers and hunters wore manicae made of animal hide. Terms used to describe sleeves were also, in certain times, used to describe winter mittens and gloves (which seems fitting, seeing as "manica" comes from the Latin manus, meaning "hand"). Handcuffs were also referred to as "manicae". Also called cheirides/χειρίδες. Greek and Roman. Plural: Manicae.
Mitra: Any kind of band or belt. 1. A belt or girdle worn around the waist by a warrior. 2. A piece of cloth worn around the head, sometimes called an anadema. 3. A zone. 4. In later times, a strophium.
Munimentum togae: See - Lacerna.
Paenula: A thick, sleeveless cloak similar to a modern poncho which was used by men while traveling. It was usually made of wool, but sometimes of leather. Roman. Plural: Paenulae.
Pallium philosophicum: An abolla worn by Roman philosophers. Roman.
Pera/πήρα: A leather wallet worn at the hip by travelers, shepherds, country people and Cynic philosophers. The term was also used to describe women's purses. Greek.
Peripodion/περιπόδιον: See - Instita.
Petasos/πέτασος: A broad-brimmed hat with a short, round crown crown worn by Greek men, typically farmers, for protection from the sun. It was usually made of felt or straw, but also leather or wool. It was traditionally worn by farmers in Greece and Asia Minor until at least the late 19th century.
Ricinium: Uncertain meaning. 1. Any garment made from a square piece of cloth. 2. A feminine toga with a clavus latus in front. 3. A short feminine pallium. 4. A women's head covering. It was most likely a type of hooded mantle.
Skiadeion/σκιάδειον: See - Umbraculum.
Skiadiske/σκιαδίσκη: See - Umbraculum.
Sparganon/σπάργανον: See - Incunabula.
Synthesis: A type of colored tunic worn at dinner in place of the more cumbersome toga. It was worn by men of all classes during Saturnalia. Also called coenatoria, vestes coenatoriae or accubitoria. Roman. Plural: Syntheses.
Tholia/θολία: A broad-brimmed straw hat worn by Greek women. It replaced the umbraculum by the 2nd century AD. Greek.
Umbella: See - Umbraculum.
Umbraculum: A foldable parasol carried by slaves to protect their mistress' skin from the sun or to shield them during light showers. In Athens, the daughters of immigrants and aliens had to carry their parasols themselves. By the 2nd century AD, parasols were mostly abandoned by Greek women in favor of a broad-brimmed straw hat called a tholia/θολία. Also called an umbella (not a typo), skiadeion/σκιάδειον, skiadion/σκιάδιον or skiadiske/σκιαδίσκη. Greek and Roman.
Velamen: See - Velum. Plural: Velamina.
Velum: The general term for any type of veil worn by women. A veil-covered head was considered graceful and was associated with Venus and Pandora. A veil worn by a bride was called a flammeum. Also called a velamen (more common) or kalyptra/καλύπτρα. Greek and Roman. Plural: Vela.
Vestes coenatoriae: See - Synthesis.
Vitta: A thin band worn around the head as a normal part of female dress, meant to confine the hair. They could be any color and were sometimes decorated with embroidery or ornaments such as pearls. Vittae worn by unmarried women were apparently different from those worn by married women. The change was made on their wedding day. Only freeborn women were allowed to wear them. Roman. Plural: Vittae.
Accubitoria: See - Synthesis.
Alicula: Possibly a similar garment to the chlamys. In Greek, it was called an allix/ἄλλιξ, allex/ἄλληξ, allika/ἄλλικα or eneteisi/ἐνετῇσι. Greek and Roman. Plural: Aliculae.
Allex/ἄλληξ: See - Alicula.
Allika/ἄλλικα: See - Alicula.
Allix/ἄλλιξ: See - Alicula.
Birrus: A cape or hood for outdoor wear, usually made of sheep's or beaver's wool. It was worn by the poor into the Middle Ages. Roman and Medieval.
Causia/καυσία: A broad-brimmed felt hat worn by Macedonian kings and later adopted by Roman emperors in imitation of Alexander the Great. In surviving images, the brim appears to have been upturned. Macedonian and Roman.
Cheirides/χειρίδες: See - Manica.
Chlaina/χλαῖνα: See - Chlamys/χλαμύς.
Chlamys/χλαμύς: An oblong scarf worn by usually worn by men, although Diana/Artemis is often depicted wearing a masculine one while hunting (usually pulled over one shoulder and twisted around her waist). Women's chlamydes were decorated with a border. Also called a chlaina/χλαῖνα. Greek and Roman (to some extent). Plural: Chlamydes/χλᾰμύδες.
Chlamys ephebike/χλαμύς ἐφηβικὴ: A yellow or saffron chlamys. Greek and Roman (to some extent).
Chlamys stratiotike/χλαμύς στρατιωτικὴ: A scarlet chlamys. Greek and Roman (to some extent).
Clavus angustus: Two narrow purple stripes extending vertically down the front of a garment. Roman.
Clavus latus: A broad purple stripe extending vertically down the front of a garment. Roman.
Coenatoria: See - Synthesis.
Cucullus: A cowl associated with shepherds, but also worn by people of high rank when they wished to travel without being recognized. Roman. Plural: Cuculli.
Cunabula: See - Incunabula.
Cyclas: A round women's robe made out of thin cloth and edged on the bottom in gilt. It was considered extremely luxurious, enough that Alexander Severus decreed that women were limited to one cyclas each. It appears to have been worn into the late Middle Ages by men. In Greek, it was called a kuklas/κυκλάς. Greek, Roman and Medieval.
Eneteisi/ἐνετῇσι: See - Alicula.
Flammeum: A bride's veil, apparently dyed a deep yellow. Roman. Plural: Flammea.
Incunabula: Swaddling clothes. Also called cunabula or sparganon/σπάργανον. Greek and Roman. Plural form of incunabulum.
Instita: A broad flounce sewn to the bottom hem of a matron's tunic, meant to give off an air of decency. Some may have been decorated in the manner of the more expensive cyclas. Also called a peripodion/περιπόδιον. Roman. Plural: Institae.
Kalyptra/καλύπτρα: See - Velum.
Kuklas/κυκλάς: See - Cyclas. Plural: Kyklades/Κυκλάδες.
Lacerna: A cloak worn over the toga - wrapped around the upper body and fastened on one shoulder with a buckle (fibula). It is said to have usually been a dark color. Also called a munimentum togae, mandyas/μανδύας, mandye/μανδύη. Greek and Roman. Plural: Lacernae.
Laena: A thick cloak with shaggy sides worn over the pallium or toga for warmth. Greek and Roman.
Mandyas/μανδύας: See - Lacerna. Plural: Mandyes/μανδύες.
Mandye/μανδύη: See - Lacerna.
Manica: A sleeve which was worn as a separate garment. (Sleeves sewn to a garment were called chiridota or manicata tunica.) Palladius says that farmers and hunters wore manicae made of animal hide. Terms used to describe sleeves were also, in certain times, used to describe winter mittens and gloves (which seems fitting, seeing as "manica" comes from the Latin manus, meaning "hand"). Handcuffs were also referred to as "manicae". Also called cheirides/χειρίδες. Greek and Roman. Plural: Manicae.
Mitra: Any kind of band or belt. 1. A belt or girdle worn around the waist by a warrior. 2. A piece of cloth worn around the head, sometimes called an anadema. 3. A zone. 4. In later times, a strophium.
Munimentum togae: See - Lacerna.
Paenula: A thick, sleeveless cloak similar to a modern poncho which was used by men while traveling. It was usually made of wool, but sometimes of leather. Roman. Plural: Paenulae.
Pallium philosophicum: An abolla worn by Roman philosophers. Roman.
Pera/πήρα: A leather wallet worn at the hip by travelers, shepherds, country people and Cynic philosophers. The term was also used to describe women's purses. Greek.
Peripodion/περιπόδιον: See - Instita.
Petasos/πέτασος: A broad-brimmed hat with a short, round crown crown worn by Greek men, typically farmers, for protection from the sun. It was usually made of felt or straw, but also leather or wool. It was traditionally worn by farmers in Greece and Asia Minor until at least the late 19th century.
Ricinium: Uncertain meaning. 1. Any garment made from a square piece of cloth. 2. A feminine toga with a clavus latus in front. 3. A short feminine pallium. 4. A women's head covering. It was most likely a type of hooded mantle.
Skiadeion/σκιάδειον: See - Umbraculum.
Skiadiske/σκιαδίσκη: See - Umbraculum.
Sparganon/σπάργανον: See - Incunabula.
Synthesis: A type of colored tunic worn at dinner in place of the more cumbersome toga. It was worn by men of all classes during Saturnalia. Also called coenatoria, vestes coenatoriae or accubitoria. Roman. Plural: Syntheses.
Tholia/θολία: A broad-brimmed straw hat worn by Greek women. It replaced the umbraculum by the 2nd century AD. Greek.
Umbella: See - Umbraculum.
Umbraculum: A foldable parasol carried by slaves to protect their mistress' skin from the sun or to shield them during light showers. In Athens, the daughters of immigrants and aliens had to carry their parasols themselves. By the 2nd century AD, parasols were mostly abandoned by Greek women in favor of a broad-brimmed straw hat called a tholia/θολία. Also called an umbella (not a typo), skiadeion/σκιάδειον, skiadion/σκιάδιον or skiadiske/σκιαδίσκη. Greek and Roman.
Velamen: See - Velum. Plural: Velamina.
Velum: The general term for any type of veil worn by women. A veil-covered head was considered graceful and was associated with Venus and Pandora. A veil worn by a bride was called a flammeum. Also called a velamen (more common) or kalyptra/καλύπτρα. Greek and Roman. Plural: Vela.
Vestes coenatoriae: See - Synthesis.
Vitta: A thin band worn around the head as a normal part of female dress, meant to confine the hair. They could be any color and were sometimes decorated with embroidery or ornaments such as pearls. Vittae worn by unmarried women were apparently different from those worn by married women. The change was made on their wedding day. Only freeborn women were allowed to wear them. Roman. Plural: Vittae.