Spartan Cloak

[Johnny Shumate]

During the Peloponnesian War, what type of cloak did the Spartans wear? The himation/tribon or the chlamys..?
Thanks,
Johnny

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Oh,johny,you're touching a sensible spot...I've spent hours discussing thas in this and other forums,and yet I did not come to any certain conclusions.At least your question excludes "if they wore them in battle" which is an even greater field of disagreement.
If I remember correctly, someone wrote that the Spartan cloacs were a bit shorter than usual.In Xenophon,it is usually refered with the name indicating their color and not the shape(phoinikis).In almost all vases and sculptures of the classical period though,soldiers are fighting with a chlamis.If I wanted to paint them fighting with a cloak,that would be a chlamis short enough not to touch the ground when bending.
Of course now you will possibly receive posts expalining that cloaks were not worn in battle,but as this is all modern speculation about what would be practical or not,you can pain them whatever you like.
Khaire
Giannis

[Craig Gascoigne]

Giannis

do you have patterns for the cloaks so hard her to get a good patterns

Regards Craig

[geala]

Did not the young and beautyful rich aristocratic slackers in Athens in the late 5th c. BC enjoy it to wear only a chlamys without a chiton, because it was Spartan fashion?

If then a chlamys at least could be considered to be used sometimes by Lakedaimonians.

I can not imagine to fight in a himation but it could be possible to fight in a chlamys. It would perhaps be painful however when the lead weights at the corners smash against the knees or shinbones because of fierce movements. :wink:


Edit: did special patterns exist for the cloaks? I thought just simple rectangular panels were used. My chlamys measures 200 x 90 cm (I'm 1,85 m tall); the corners in front and back so hang around at the knees like you can normally see it in the ancient pictures. Or what do you mean?

[hoplite14gr]

Johhny your answers are probably here:
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic. ... s+spartans
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=15478

From personal experience.
It is possivle to fight in acloack if you adjust it carefully but I would avoid it if i had a choice.

Kind regards

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

http://www.aeria.phil.uni-erlangen.de/p ... anth39.JPG
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o118 ... vspers.jpg
Craig,in additon to the pics above,you can trust anything you see in this site.
http://www.costumes.org/HISTORY/100page ... reece1.htm
Khaire
Giannis

[geala]

Or does patterns refer to adornments of the cloaks (native speakers help needed)? They were often without or had a simple band or a meander in another colour at the borders or the smaller side borders.

[hoplite14gr]

Untill the hellenistic period decoration patterns were heavilly tribal.
We have identified the Doric patterns and the Achaic pattern of Laconia.
Ionic patterns and "secret societies" are still under research.

Kind regards

[geala]

@ Stefanos: is it possible to see the said patterns in the net?

[hoplite14gr]

Inages here
http://www.300spartanwarriors.com/battl ... ponry.html
Page six of this:
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=6019
for explanations

Kind regards