The World of Roman Costume

Greeks and Romans felt that nationality could be identified by dress as well as by language. Examining the ways the women and men of antiquity presented themselves through their dress provides valuable insight into their social institutions; concepts of rank, gender, and status; cultural symbols; role playing; and self-identification. These concerns shape "The World of Roman Costume", an extensive investigation of Roman dress, following the pioneering studies of the the 1920s and 1930s by Lillian Wilson. These essays combine the expertise of archaeologists, philologists, anthropologists, and historians. Together they form a transdisciplinary view of the functional and symbolic values of costuming within Roman society and other societies where Roman influence was pervasive. Because habits of dress were determined by, and hence are expressions of, the traditional roles and everyday activities assumed by the Romans, these essays aim to provide a valuable resource for historians of culture, the arts, and religion.