Himation

A himation (Ancient Greek: ἱμάτιον /hɪˈmætiˌɒn/ hə-MAT-ee-un[1]) was a type of clothing, a mantle or wrap worn by ancient Greek men and women from the Archaic through the Hellenistic periods (c. 750–30 BC).

Sitting Achilles wrapped in a himation, depicted on a greek kylix from ca 500 BC.
Statues at the "House of Cleopatra" in Delos, Greece. Man and woman wearing the himation

It was usually worn over a chiton and/or peplos, but was made of heavier drape and played the role of a cloak or shawl. When the himation was used alone (without a chiton), and served both as a chiton and as a cloak, it was called an achiton. The himation was markedly less voluminous than the Roman toga. It was usually a large rectangular piece of woollen cloth. Many vase paintings depict women wearing a himation as a veil covering their faces.[2]

The himation continued into the Byzantine era as "iconographic dress" used in art and by the lower classes, worn by Christ, the Virgin Mary, and biblical figures.

See also

References
  1. "HHimation". Merriam-Webster.
  2. Renshaw, James (2008). In Search of the Greeks. London: Bristol Classical Press. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-8539-9699-3.
  • Media related to Himation at Wikimedia Commons


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