Greek people wore simple clothing that they wove from wool or plant fibers, including cotton. They also made clothing from animal skins. The wealthy wore muslin or linen. Both men and women went barefoot indoors and wore a draped garment called a chiton, which fell about their body in folds. A woman’s chiton reached her ankles, a man’s reached his knees. The chitons were kept close to the body with two belts. Most chitons were short-sleeved or sleeveless, as long sleeves indicated the person was a slave or a workman.
Until Alexander’s time most Greek men had long hair and beards. In ancient Greece, Rome, and the Middle East, intricately groomed long hair was considered a mark of beauty and caring for it was
A time-consuming task that most often only the rich could afford.
Slaves and ordinary people, who did not have the time or the money that elaborate hair styles required, commonly wore their hair short.
When Alexander joined the Macedonian army, he cut his shoulder-length hair to the neck because he did not want it to interfere with his armor. He also shaved his beard-legend has it that this was to make sure an enemy could not grab him by the chin in close combat. When he became king, he ordered his soldiers to shave their beards as well.
From his time on, most Greek men had short hair and stopped wearing beards.
Persian Fashion
Darius I listens to a petitioner in this detail (c. 491-486 B. C.E.) from the palace at Persepolis. Persian men grew their beards long and considered it indecent to show any part of their body (other than their face and hands) in public.
In the Persian Empire, men’s beards grew long. They thought it indecent to show any of their bodies other than their faces, so their garments draped from head to toe. Both men and women wore long robes. Wealthy people wore elaborate clothes made of luxurious fabrics, such as imported silk. Wealthy men and women both wore jewelry, including rings, earrings, and bracelets set with precious stones.
The king wore a flowing robe of purple, the traditional color of royalty in ancient times, interwoven with gold threads. He also wore a magnificent crown with precious gems and, frequently, beautiful earrings, chains, and bracelets.
Most Macedonians and Greeks thought Persian clothes too ostentatious. But when he was not in battle, Alexander often wore Persian clothing himself, especially in the later part of his reign. He wore a long robe, cape, sash, and headband in the royal purple and white.
World History
