peplus
Noun: A peplus is a type of garment worn by women in ancient Greece. It was a large rectangular piece of cloth that was fastened at the shoulders with pins or brooches and then draped in loose folds down to the waist or sometimes to the feet.
The word "peplus" is a historical and archaeological term. It is used specifically to describe this particular style of ancient Greek women's clothing. - The statue depicts the goddess Athena wearing a finely detailed peplus. - In her research on classical attire, she studied the construction and draping of the peplus.
- The term is often used in academic contexts related to art history, classical studies, and archaeology when describing sculptures, vase paintings, or textual references.
- It can sometimes be used metaphorically in literature to evoke classical antiquity or a sense of timeless, draped elegance.
- Peplos (noun): This is the more common Greek-derived spelling for the same garment. "Peplos" and "peplus" are often used interchangeably, though "peplos" is frequently preferred in modern scholarly writing.
- The frieze shows maidens carrying a new peplos for the statue of Athena.
- Robe: A general term for a long, loose outer garment.
- Tunic: A simple garment hanging from the shoulders, though typically more fitted than a peplus.
- Chiton: Another type of ancient Greek garment, often worn by both men and women, which was sometimes worn under the peplos.
The "peplus" refers specifically to the Doric-style women's garment of ancient Greece. It is distinct from the Ionic chiton, which was made of lighter material and fastened with multiple pins along the arms. The peplus was typically made of wool and was a heavier, more substantial drape.
-
a garment worn by women in ancient Greece; cloth caught at the shoulders and draped in folds to the waist
