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Marcus Valerius Martialis was a Roman poet from Hispania best known for his twelve books of Epigrams, published in Rome between AD 86 and 103, during the reigns of the emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan. In these short, witty poems he cheerfully satirises city life and the scandalous activities of his acquaintances, and romanticises his provincial upbringing. He wrote a total of 1,561 epigrams, of which 1,235 are in elegiac couplets.
Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honor of the god Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through to 23 December. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn, in the Roman Forum, and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted, and masters provided table service for their slaves as it was seen as a time of liberty for both slaves and freedmen alike. A common custom was the election of a "King of the Saturnalia", who would give orders to people, which were to be followed and preside over the merrymaking. The gifts exchanged were usually gag gifts or small figurines made of wax or pottery known as sigillaria. The poet Catullus called it "the best of days".
The toga, a distinctive garment of ancient Rome, was a roughly semicircular cloth, between 12 and 20 feet in length, draped over the shoulders and around the body. It was usually woven from white wool, and was worn over a tunic. In Roman historical tradition, it is said to have been the favored dress of Romulus, Rome's founder; it was also thought to have originally been worn by both sexes, and by the citizen-military. As Roman women gradually adopted the stola, the toga was recognized as formal wear for male Roman citizens. Women engaged in prostitution might have provided the main exception to this rule.
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The dalmatic is a long, wide-sleeved tunic, which serves as a liturgical vestment in the Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, United Methodist, and some other churches. When used, it is the proper vestment of a deacon at Mass, Holy Communion or other services such as baptism or marriage held in the context of a Eucharistic service. Although infrequent, it may also be worn by bishops above the alb and below the chasuble, and is then referred to as pontifical dalmatic.
A sarong or sarung is a large tube or length of fabric, often wrapped around the waist, worn in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Western Asia, Northern Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and on many Pacific islands. The fabric often has woven plaid or checkered patterns, or may be brightly colored by means of batik or ikat dyeing. Many modern sarongs have printed designs, often depicting animals or plants. Different types of sarongs are worn in different places in the world, notably the lungi in the Indian subcontinent and the izaar in the Arabian Peninsula.
A tunic is a garment for the body, usually simple in style, reaching from the shoulders to a length somewhere between the hips and the knees. The name derives from the Latin tunica, the basic garment worn by both men and women in Ancient Rome, which in turn was based on earlier Greek garments that covered wearers' waists.
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The preservation of fabric fibers and leathers allows for insights into the attire of ancient societies. The clothing used in the ancient world reflects the technologies that these peoples mastered. In many cultures, clothing indicated the social status of various members of society.
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The fashion industry in Nigeria plays an important cultural role and contributes significantly to the country's economics. Casual attire is commonly worn but formal and traditional styles are also worn depending on the occasion. Clothing incorporates a variety of colours, fabrics, and embellishments. Many of the component cultures of Nigeria wear styles that are unique to their tribal society and customs. Nigeria is known not only for its fashionable textiles and garments, but also for its fashion designers who have increasingly gained international recognition.
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References
- ↑ Matthew B. Roller, Dining Posture in Ancient Rome: Bodies, Values, and Status (Princeton University Press, 2006), p. 34.
- ↑ Martial, Epigram 5.79, 14.1.1 (see also CIL VI. 2068.8), as cited by Roller, Dining Posture in Ancient Rome, p. 34; Ethel Hampson Brewster, "The Synthesis of the Romans," Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 49 (1918), p. 131.
- ↑ Martial, Epigrams 10.87.12, 14.136 (so too Petronius, 21.5 and 56.9), as cited by Roller, Dining Posture in Ancient Rome, p. 34.
- ↑ Brewster, "The Synthesis of the Romans," pp. 137–138.
- ↑ Brewster, "The Synthesis of the Romans," p. 132, citing Martial 2.46 and 5.79.
- ↑ Brewster, "The Synthesis of the Romans," p. 133, citing Martial 10.29.3–6.
- ↑ Brewster, "The Synthesis of the Romans," p. 131.
- ↑ Roller, Dining Posture in Ancient Rome, p. 34.
- ↑ Brewster, "The Synthesis of the Romans," p. 132.
- ↑ Martial 14.1.1–2.
- ↑ Brewster, "The Synthesis of the Romans," p. 141.
- ↑ Suetonius, Life of Nero 51; Brewster, "The Synthesis of the Romans," p. 132.
- ↑ Brewster, "The Synthesis of the Romans," p. 132, citing the Acta fratrum Arvalium and inscriptions.
- ↑ Robert E.A. Palmer, The Archaic Community of the Romans (Cambridge University Press, 2009), p. 112.