Late Republican Re-Enactment groups + handspun fibre query

[Matthew Amt]

OH now here's a statement from the University of Richmond website:
"Women in ancient Rome, like the men, wore long togas made of silk in the summer or wool in the winter. " - now according to what I've read so far (Adkin's Hbook to Life in Ancient Rome, I think) - only prostitutes wore a toga. What gives? (should I move this part of the discussion to the Civ threads?)

As I understand it, the toga was WOOL, period. Except in summer, when it was WOOL! If it's linen or silk, it might be a wrap of some other name, but it ain't a toga. Ditto for the women's palla--it's wool, or call it something else.

Double-check with Toga Man on this, but I believe the current wisdom is that VERY early in the Roman Republic (back into the Monarchy, really), the toga was worn by men and women. It was the Roman national garment, and very commonly worn. By the late Republic, however, it was only worn by men, and was becoming more of a formal garment, like a business suit (or even a tux in some places!). I have heard that prostitutes wore togas--maybe it was some sort of logic about them not being dressed like decent women? I think Colleen McCullough says they wore flame-colored togas, but no idea if there's evidence for that.

Helena, I haven't read a lot of the recent historical fiction that's come out, but one common failing I've seen is that the author tries to throw in all sorts of neato technical details--and gets them wrong! Or at least over-emphasizes them or does something controversial. Vagueness is still your greatest weapon, as I'm sure you know! You don't have to describe armor or weapons or gear when you mention them. You can say that the heroine's spinning was lousy without saying how! Heck, saves you research time anyway, eh?

Good luck with the book!! Valete,

Matthew/Quintus