Thracian clothing

Last updated

Thracian clothing refers to types of clothing worn mainly by Thracians, Dacians [1] but also by some Greeks. [2] Its best literal descriptions are given by Herodotus [3] and Xenophon in his Anabasis. [1] Depictions are found in a great number of Greek vases and there are a few Persian representations as well. In contrast to shapes and patterns we have very little evidence on the colours used.

Contents

History and types

The Thracians wore a tunic, a cloak called zeira (Ancient Greek: ζείρα), a cap called alopekis (Ancient Greek: Αλωπεκίς) made from the scalp of a fox with the ears visible, [1] other Phrygian cap styles, and fawnskin boots called embades (Ancient Greek: Εμβάδες). Thracian clothing was sometimes decorated with intricate patterns. While patterned clothing was not unique to Thracians, the zeira, embades and the alopekis probably originated from them.[ citation needed ] Clothing was made from hemp, flax or wool. [4] The Dacians and the Getae wore pantaloons called bracae [5] (Ancient Greek,"ἀναξυρίδες" or "θύλακοι").These loose pants were described in Euripides work as “variegated bags” (Ancient Greek,"τοὺς θυλάκους τοὺς ποικίλους") and may have appeared highly ridiculous to the Greeks, although Ovid mentions the adoption of them by the descendants of some of the Greek colonists on the Euxine.These trousers were common in many nations.

Classical era

Thracian peltast from a kylix wearing patterned clothing Peltaste.JPG
Thracian peltast from a kylix wearing patterned clothing

In the north only noble Thracians, the "Zibythides" and noble Dacians, the "Pileati", would wear caps. [1] Despite this Herodotus writes that all Thracians in the Persian army wore foxskin caps and multicoloured mantles. Northern tribes in general, both Thracians and Daco-Getians, wore clothes similar to Scythians. [1]

Hellenistic era

The Thracians at Pydna in 168 BC wore black tunics. The Kausia (Ancient Greek: Καυσία) was adopted from the Macedonians. [6] Although many Thracian tribes began to incorporate Greek garbs to their fashion, they still largely retained their own styles of clothing. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

Dacians Indo-European people

The Dacians were a Thracian people who were the ancient inhabitants of the cultural region of Dacia, located in the area near the Carpathian Mountains and west of the Black Sea. This area includes mainly the present-day countries of Romania and Moldova, as well as parts of Ukraine, Eastern Serbia, Northern Bulgaria, Slovakia, Hungary and Southern Poland. The Dacians spoke the Dacian language, a sub-group of Thracian, but were somewhat culturally influenced by the neighbouring Scythians and by the Celtic invaders of the 4th century BC.

Thracians ancient Indo-European people that lived in eastern parts of Europe

The Thracians were an Indo-European people who inhabited large parts of Eastern and Southeastern Europe in ancient history. Thracians resided mainly in the Balkans, but were also located in Anatolia and other locations in Eastern Europe.

Agathyrsi

Agathyrsi were a people of Scythian, or mixed Dacian-Scythian origin, who in the time of Herodotus occupied the plain of the Maris (Mures), in the mountainous part of ancient Dacia now known as Transylvania in present-day Romania. Their ruling class seems to have been of Scythian origin.

Peltast

A peltast was a type of light infantry, originating in Thrace and Paeonia, who often served as skirmishers in Hellenic and Hellenistic armies. In the Medieval period, the same term was used for a type of Byzantine infantryman.

Odrysian kingdom Union of Thracian tribes and kingdoms (5th century BC to 1st century AD)

The Odrysian Kingdom was a state union of over 40 Thracian tribes and 22 kingdoms that existed with interruptions between the 5th century BC and the 1st century AD. It consisted mainly of present-day Bulgaria, spreading to parts of Southeastern Romania, parts of Northern Greece and parts of modern-day European Turkey. Dominated by the eponymous Odrysian people, it was the largest and longest-lasting Thracian state in recorded history.

Getae

The Getae or Gets were several Thracian tribes that once inhabited the regions to either side of the Lower Danube, in what is today northern Bulgaria and southern Romania. Both the singular form Get and plural Getae may be derived from a Greek exonym: the area was the hinterland of Greek colonies on the Black Sea coast, bringing the Getae into contact with the ancient Greeks from an early date. Although it is believed that the Getae were related to their westward neighbours, the Dacians, several scholars, especially in the Romanian historiography, posit that the Getae and the Dacians were the same people.

Teres I First king of the Odrysian state (ruled c. 460-445 BC)

Teres I was the first king of the Odrysian state of Thrace. Thrace had nominally been part of the Persian empire since 516 BC during the rule of Darius the Great, and was re-subjugated by Mardonius in 492 BC.

Bessi Ancient Thracian tribe

The Bessi were an independent Thracian tribe who lived in a territory ranging from Moesia to Mount Rhodope in Northern Thrace, but are often mentioned as dwelling about Haemus, the mountain range that separates Moesia from Thrace and from Mount Rhodope to the northern part of Hebrus.

Rhomphaia Ancient Thracian bladed weapon

The rhomphaia was a close-combat bladed weapon used by the Thracians as early as 350-400 BC. Rhomphaias were weapons with a straight or slightly curved single-edged blade attached to a pole, which in most cases was considerably shorter than the blade. Although the rhomphaia was similar to the falx, most archaeological evidence suggests that rhomphaias were forged with straight or slightly curved blades, presumably to enable their use as both a thrusting and slashing weapon. The blade was constructed of iron and used a triangular cross section to accommodate the single cutting edge with a tang of rectangular cross section. Length varied, but a typical rhomphaia would have a blade of approximately 60–80 cm and a tang of approximately 50 cm. From the length of the tang, it can be presumed that, when attached to the hilt, this portion of the weapon would be of similar length to the blade.

Thracian treasure Aspect of Thracian archaeology

The Thracians were a group of Indo-European tribes inhabiting a large area in Central and Southeastern Europe, centred in modern Bulgaria. They were bordered by the Scythians to the north, the Celts and the Illyrians to the west, the Greeks to the south, and the Black Sea to the east.

Koreli or Coreli is the name of a Thracian tribe. They are mentioned by Livy.

Thracian warfare

The history of Thracian warfare spans from the 10th century BC up to the 1st century AD in the region defined by Ancient Greek and Latin historians as Thrace. It concerns the armed conflicts of the Thracian tribes and their kingdoms in the Balkans. Apart from conflicts between Thracians and neighboring nations and tribes, numerous wars were recorded among Thracian tribes.

Dacian warfare

The history of Dacian warfare spans from c. 10th century BC up to the 2nd century AD in the region defined by Ancient Greek and Latin historians as Dacia, populated by a collection of Thracian, Ionian, and Dorian tribes. It concerns the armed conflicts of the Dacian tribes and their kingdoms in the Balkans. Apart from conflicts between Dacians and neighboring nations and tribes, numerous wars were recorded among Dacians too.

Phrygian helmet Ancient Greek helmet with a high, curved apex

The Phrygian helmet, also known as the Thracian helmet, was a type of helmet that originated in Classical Greece and was widely used in Thrace, Dacia, Magna Graecia and the Hellenistic world until well into the Roman Empire.

Spargapeithes was the name of a king of the Scythian tribe of the Agathyrsi. He is perhaps best remembered as the murderer of the king Ariapeithes.

Thracian tomb of Aleksandrovo Thracian burial mound

The Aleksandrovo tomb is a Thracian burial mound and tomb excavated near Aleksandrovo, Haskovo Province, South-Eastern Bulgaria, dated to c. 4th century BCE.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 The Thracians 700 BC-AD 46 (Men-at-Arms) by Christopher Webber and Angus McBride, 2001, ISBN   1-84176-329-2, page 18
  2. Greek warrior
  3. "Herodotus, Histories 7.75".
  4. The Thracians 700 BC-AD 46 (Men-at-Arms) by Christopher Webber and Angus McBride, 2001, ISBN   1-84176-329-2, page 17
  5. bracae-harpers
  6. Saatsoglou-Paliadeli, Chryssoula. 1993. “Aspects of ancient Macedonian costume.” Journal of Hellenic Studies 113: 122–147. doi:10.2307/632401
  7. The Thracians 700 BC-AD 46 (Men-at-Arms) by Christopher Webber and Angus McBride, 2001, ISBN   1-84176-329-2, page 19

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Ancient Thrace and Ancient Thracians at Wikimedia Commons