Himation

A woman with a peplos (left), and two women with a himation over a chiton (right).

A himation (Ancient Greek: ἱμάτιον) was a type of clothing, a mantle or wrap worn by Greek men and women from the Archaic through the Hellenistic periods (c. 750–30 BC). A very large rectangle of fabric, the himation was draped in different ways—e.g., as a shawl, a cloak, or a head covering—during various periods.^[1] It was usually worn over a chiton and/or peplos, but was made of heavier drape and played the role of a cloak.

The himation was markedly less voluminous than the Roman toga.

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 continued into the Byzantine era, especially as iconographic dress for Christ and other figures from Biblical times, although it appears still to have been worn by others, especially by older men of relatively low status.

See also

• Clothing in the ancient world
• Clothing in ancient Greece

References

1. Encyclopaedia Britannica online