Togas

TOGAS

Roman men wore a tunic; but only the workman or the slave appeared in it in public. The roman citizen wore a toga over his tunic. The toga has been look upon as the masterpiece of draped garments. The toga had been adopted by the Romans from the Etruscans and was originally worn by both men and women. It required no fastening with pins or buckles and its surface was unbroken. The toga was a semicircular length of wool cloth or material that was wrapped or draped according to an exact recommendation. First the person wearing the toga arranged it in folds parallel to the straight edge of the fabric. Then he placed the remaining of the fabric across his back and under his right arm. Next he brought the length over his chest and his left arm and shoulder, then securing the first end. The second end hung down his back.

The Roman's had a distinct color or border on the toga to identify positions in society. Normal citizens wore a white toga. Magistrates, priest, and upper-class boys wore a purple-bordered toga. Emperors wore an embroidered purple toga over a gold-embroidered tunic.

Romans of the early age were proud to wear their togas and the other garments they wore draped in graceful folds as they strolled in the Forum. Because the cloth was mainly wool, it needed skillful treatment to remain in good condition such as size and shape. The garments were ordinarily sent to the public laundry where the fuller or laundryman, washed, whitened, redyed, and pressed the garments.

After the fullers washed the clothes, they placed them in a fuller's press. This consisted of two uprights, two planks, and a large screw top. Turned by cranks, it flattened the cloth between the planks. This kept the togas looking in great condition at all times.