02-20-2014, 01:22 PM
Hello Tobias
Now I have started to read about roman dress to get more information and realized that the movie dresses aren’t very accurate.
We all share that frustration!
Most films etc show the tunic of a senator with a single broad stripe up the middle. There is no real evidence for this but I think it is a misinterpretation of the original sources. As you can see in your pictures the left shoulder stripe is hidden under the toga so you would only ever see one.
I have changed my tunic pattern so it has the vertical stripes now. Second: It has no longer sleeves.
The tunic needs to be wider than it is long so turn it on it's side but keep the clavi in the same position. I think a rough guide is that Senatorial stripes were a supposed to be a fingers length, while Equestrian stripes were supposed to be a fingers width. I do not think a Senatorial or Equestrian tunic has ever been found but it is clear from the finds of tunics belonging to ordinary people that they were wearing clavi bigger than this!
For senatorial togas you could try and find 'The Roman Toga' by L.M. Wilson. The original is an old book but I think modern reprints are available on Amazon. I bought one a few years ago. There is also 'The World of Roman Costume' by J. Sebesta and L. Bonfante.
An interesting point while we are on the subject. In Sandra Bingham's recent book on the Praetorian Guard she argues against the wearing of togas in the palace by the Praetorians as depicted in the above artwork. They do have a little bit of an American secret agent look about them and it is hard to imagine in a crisis a guard running after anyone in a toga. However in his latest Osprey on the Roman Guardsman Ross Cowan takes the opposite view and he argues in favour of the toga. (There are two references to the Guard in togas in Tacitus, I believe. Not to hand at the moment)
A topic perhaps worthy of a separate discussion..... anyone?
Graham.
Now I have started to read about roman dress to get more information and realized that the movie dresses aren’t very accurate.
We all share that frustration!
Most films etc show the tunic of a senator with a single broad stripe up the middle. There is no real evidence for this but I think it is a misinterpretation of the original sources. As you can see in your pictures the left shoulder stripe is hidden under the toga so you would only ever see one.I have changed my tunic pattern so it has the vertical stripes now. Second: It has no longer sleeves.
The tunic needs to be wider than it is long so turn it on it's side but keep the clavi in the same position. I think a rough guide is that Senatorial stripes were a supposed to be a fingers length, while Equestrian stripes were supposed to be a fingers width. I do not think a Senatorial or Equestrian tunic has ever been found but it is clear from the finds of tunics belonging to ordinary people that they were wearing clavi bigger than this!
For senatorial togas you could try and find 'The Roman Toga' by L.M. Wilson. The original is an old book but I think modern reprints are available on Amazon. I bought one a few years ago. There is also 'The World of Roman Costume' by J. Sebesta and L. Bonfante.
An interesting point while we are on the subject. In Sandra Bingham's recent book on the Praetorian Guard she argues against the wearing of togas in the palace by the Praetorians as depicted in the above artwork. They do have a little bit of an American secret agent look about them and it is hard to imagine in a crisis a guard running after anyone in a toga. However in his latest Osprey on the Roman Guardsman Ross Cowan takes the opposite view and he argues in favour of the toga. (There are two references to the Guard in togas in Tacitus, I believe. Not to hand at the moment)
A topic perhaps worthy of a separate discussion..... anyone?
Graham.
"Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream" Edgar Allan Poe.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
