Sagum

The sagum was a garment of note generally worn by members of the Roman military during both the Republic and early Empire. Regarded symbolically as a garment of war by the same tradition which embraced the toga as a garment of peace,^[1] it was slightly more practical in any event, consisting of a simple rectangular segment of cloth fastened by a leather or perhaps metal clasp and worn on top of the armor. The fabric was made of unwashed wool, saturated with lanolin (which made it water-resistant); it was traditionally dyed bright red.

Notes

1. Henry Nettleship and J. E. Sandys, ed. (1894). "Sagum". Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Retrieved 2007-02-03.