Dress and modern dress Essay Example

Dress and modern dress Essay Example Dress and modern dress Essay Dress and modern dress Essay In this assignment I am going to be comparing Ancient Greek clothing to modern clothing, I am also going to use diagrams to show some of my examples of clothing.In Greece today the weather is very hot nearly all year round, so the people do not need to wear as thick and as many clothes as we do because of our colder climate. In Ancient Athens the weather was exactly the same as it is now.The material used was very light and airy as to keep them cool, it was usually wool or linen which was woven at home by the women, it was then made into clothes, nowadays clothes arent hand made, they are manufactured by machines and sold in shops, even if we had to make our own clothes it would be less of a job because we have got sewing machines and other things that were not used back then.Many colours were used for there clothing such as yellow black and green but amongst the most popular were purple, violet, saffron and red. To decorate their clothes they used stars or spots but it was mostly ge ometric designs, round the edges they would weave pictures of scrolls, cartoons and animal-scenes (shown on 5 diagram C). Currently we have clothes in every colour you could imagine and have pictures and designs all over them. Machines also do this nowadays, but in some circumstances people put their own designs in clothes (shown on page 6 diagram b)The main type of clothes worn by women was the Chiton, which is a type of loose fitting dress, this similar to what women wear now except for one thing, one is women wear now are just one piece that you just slide over your head. (Shown on 6-diagram c). There were two main styles of Chiton that women wore, Doric or Ionic. The Doric (shown on page 5 diagram b) had a very simple design. It consisted of one large piece of cloth, usually wool, which was folded. It was then placed round the body. It was fastened at the shoulders by broaches and then allowed to fall into folds. Then a belt was worn around the waist to hold the dress in positio n; this was called a Girdle, (shown on 5 diagram b). Women at the present do not have to wear belts because women only wear belts today through choice, and not as a necessity to hold their dresses together. A much longer version of this dress was called a Peplos. The Doric chiton shows more flesh than the Ionic because it exposes the arms and the neck, there are varying styles like this now. This type of dress sounds more like the sort of dress celebrities wear to walk down the red carpet, at movie premiers.The Ionic style was much more like modern day dress. The material, was almost always linen, was folded and sewn, leaving wholes for the head and arms. A belt was also worn with this dress too to hold in into position and try and make it fall into folds from the waist down (shown on page 5 diagram a). This type of dress looks more like a ball gown because they are big and fancy in design.Sometimes people wore a Himation (shown on 5 diagram a) over their chiton, which was a kind of shawl or cloak, this was especially good outside ain the evening or on a cold day. Women also wear these in this day and age, but not to keep them warm, but just as a supplement on top of their dress.Mens clothing was even simpler than womens, but that was to be expected. The garment worn most by men was the chiton, it was just a shorter version than the womens, about knee length. Most often the right shoulder was left bare if he was doing exercise or some hard work. This doesnt really compare to any mans modern day clothes because men dont wear dress like clothes. The only thing it is like is shorts and t-shirt because all they are really is a chiton cut in half at the waist. Men now were trousers more often than not with a jumper, but of course they didnt have these because their climate was much hotter than it is in our northern country. Men also used the himation, mostly when they were outside or on long journeys. For men nowadays this is a bit like a scarf, but too keep them w arm they usually wear a fleece or thicker jumper. This garment was fastened at the shoulder, with a broach or pin. On special occasions a long robe was worn and the right shoulder was often left bare. Men wear suits on special occasions now, but then if they wore suits they would get too hot.Young children rarely wore clothes because they grew out of them very fast. As girls began to get older they started to wear a simple sort f smock, which was above their knees. When boys grew old enough to go to school they began to wear garments similar to the mans chiton. In the modern day children wear clothes from the day they are born, just a simple one-piece suit. This is mostly too keep them warm. Then as they grow up they just wear smaller versions of adult clothes.The way you wore your clothes also mattered back then, at one time it was thought sloppy to let the hem of your himation touch the floor.At home sandals were not worn, but when they went out into the streets or on a journey le ather sandals were worn. We wear slippers or just socks around the house now to protect our feet and keep them clean. The sandals were very simple and made to measure, they were measured by a cobbler who would place the persons foot on a piece of leather and then cut the sole out around the foot. The sole was attached to the foot by leather thongs tied across the instep and across the ankle. Leather thongs are long thin strips of leather. At the present shows are ready made in a selection of sizes varying from 1-12 in childrens and 1-13 in adults. Only shoes over a size 13 are made specially.Headwear was not very common, although like today people going on journeys wore hats except theirs is called apetasos, a wide brimmed hat. Women were protected from the sun by a parasol that was held by a slave. Poorer people or those without sun protection just pulled their himation over their head.Hair was worn in a variety of styles (shown on 6 diagram a). Ribbons, veils or small caps were us ed to keep the hair in position. Sometimes ringlets of hair were allowed to hang down in long strands. Women have styles like this nowadays, but have much more choice. Combs were used for hairdressing; they were made of wood or ivory and were delicately carved. Currently combs are made out of plastic or metal because it is cheap. Some women dyed their hair to their preferred colour.Jewellery was very popular with women. They wore rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Bracelets were worn at the elbow and shoulder as well. This is virtually the same as what women wear at the present except there are many more materials to choose from now.Women used make-up then just as much as they do now. As white skin was regarded as a sign of beauty white lead was used to whiten the skin and alkanet juice was used to highlight the cheeks with a slight hint of rose-colour, just as rouge is used today. We know now that lead is poisonous and can bring you out in a rash or even kill you if you use too much, that is why it is not used any more. Lipstick and eye shadow were also used (probably made out of an ash of some kind). Some women tended to over do their make-up and this poet tells the hazards:If you go out in the hot summer weather, two streaks of black run from your eyes; sweet, running from your cheeks, carves of red furrow all the way down your neck, it covers it with white-leadThis is only part of the poem but it tells the embarrassing truth about what would happen if you went out with too much make-up on back then in Ancient Greece.Currently clothes are all different shapes and we use wardrobes so when they have been ironed they dont get creased, but then, most Greek clothes were rectangular so they could fit into chests.There wasnt much too choose from in the underwear department then because women wore a strip of cloth as a bra and that was it, there werent any boxer-shorts or knickers.A boys chest might contain pairs of sandals, boots and a pair of slippers for clod mornings. Hed also have a few hats, a belt and a short cloak if he rode a horse. If a boy was found with only this now he would be regarded under privileged, but it was different then because they didnt need as many clothes.In a girls room you might find a trinket box with bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Another box for ribbons combs and scarves. In a girls chest you might find sandals but not boots and if she was daring she might have high-heeled, cork-soled shoes to make here look taller, the Greeks liked tall women.

Introduction to the Agricola by Tacitus

Introduction to the Agricola by Tacitus Introduction | The Agricola | Translation Footnotes The Agricola of Tacitus. The Oxford Translation Revised, With Notes. With An Introduction by Edward Brooks, Jr. Very little is known concerning the life of Tacitus, the historian, except that which he tells us in his own writings and those incidents which are related to him by his contemporary, Pliny. The Date of the Birth of Tacitus His full name was Caius Cornelius Tacitus. The date of his birth can only be arrived at by conjecture, and then only approximately. The younger Pliny speaks of him as prope  modum aequales, about the same age. Pliny was born in 61. Tacitus, however, occupied the office of quaestor under Vespasian in 78 A.D., at which time he must, therefore, have been at least twenty-five years of age. This would fix the date of his birth not later than 53 A.D. It is probable, therefore, that Tacitus was Plinys senior by several years. Parentage His parentage is also a matter of pure conjecture. The name Cornelius was a common one among the Romans so from the name we can draw no inference. The fact that at an early age he occupied a prominent public office indicates that he was born of good family, and it is not impossible that his father was a certain Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman knight, who was procurator in Belgic Gaul, and whom the elder Pliny speaks of in his Natural History. Tacitus Upbringing Of the early life of Tacitus and the training which he underwent preparatory to those literary efforts which afterward rendered him a conspicuous figure among Roman literateurs we know absolutely nothing. Career Of the events of his life which transpired after he attained mans estate we know but little beyond that which he himself has recorded in his writings. He occupied a position of some eminence as a pleader at the Roman bar, and in 77 A.D. married the daughter of Julius Agricola, a humane and honorable citizen, who was at that time consul and was subsequently appointed the  governor of Britain. It is quite possible that this very advantageous alliance hastened his promotion to the office of quaestor under Vespasian. Under Domitian, in 88, Tacitus was appointed one of fifteen commissioners to preside at the celebration of the secular games. In the same year, he held the office of praetor  and was a member of one of the most select of the old priestly colleges, in which a prerequisite to membership was that a man should be born of a good family. Travels The following year he appears to have left Rome, and it is possible that he visited Germany and there obtained his knowledge and information respecting the manners and customs of its people which he makes the subject of his work known as the Germany.He did not return to Rome until 93, after an absence of four years, during which time his father-in-law died. Tacitus the Senator Sometime between the years 93 and 97 he was elected to the senate, and during this time witnessed the judicial murders of many of Romes best citizens which were perpetrated under the reign of Nero. Being himself a senator, he felt that he was not entirely guiltless of the crimes which were committed, and in his Agricola we find him giving expression to this feeling in the following words: Our own hands dragged Helvidius to prison; ourselves were tortured with the spectacle of Mauricus and Rusticus, and sprinkled with the innocent blood of Senecio. In 97 he was elected to the consulship as successor to Virginius Rufus, who died during his term of office and at whose funeral Tacitus delivered an oration in such a manner to cause Pliny to say, The good fortune of Virginius was crowned by having the most eloquent of panegyrists. Tacitus and Pliny as Prosecutors In 99 Tacitus was appointed by the senate, together with Pliny, to conduct the prosecution against a great political offender, Marius Priscus, who, as proconsul of Africa, had corruptly mismanaged the affairs of his province. We have his associates testimony that Tacitus made a most eloquent and dignified reply to the arguments which were urged on the part of the defense. The prosecution was successful, and both Pliny and Tacitus were awarded a vote of thanks by the senate for their eminent and effectual efforts in the management of the case. Date of Death The exact date of Tacituss death is not known, but in his Annals he seems to hint at the successful extension of the Emperor Trajans eastern campaigns during the years 115 to 117  so that it is probable that he lived until the year 117. Renown Tacitus had a widespread reputation during his lifetime. On one occasion it is related of him that as he sat in the circus at the celebration of some games, a Roman knight asked him whether he was from Italy or the provinces. Tacitus answered, You know me from your reading, to which the knight quickly replied, Are you then Tacitus or Pliny?It is also worthy of notice that the Emperor Marcus Claudius Tacitus, who reigned during the third century, claimed to be descended from the historian, and directed that ten copies of his works should be published every year and placed in the public libraries. The Works of Tacitus The list of the extant works of Tacitus is as follows: the Germany; the Life of Agricola; the Dialogue on Orators; the Histories, and the Annals. On the Translations Germany The following pages contain translations of the first two of these works. The Germany, the full title of which is Concerning the situation, manners, and inhabitants of Germany, contains little of value from a historical standpoint. It describes with vividness the fierce and independent spirit of the German nations, with many suggestions as to the dangers in which the empire stood of these people. The Agricola is a biographical sketch of the writers father-in-law, who, as has been said, was a distinguished man and governor of Britain. It is one of the authors earliest works and was probably written shortly after the death of Domitian, in 96. This work, short as it is, has always been considered an admirable specimen of a  biography on account of its grace and dignity of expression. Whatever else it may be, it is a graceful and affectionate tribute to an upright and excellent man. Dialogue on Orators The Dialogue on Orators treats of the decay of eloquence under the empire. It is in the form of a dialogue  and represents two eminent members of the Roman bar discussing the change for the worse that had taken place in the early education of the Roman youth. Histories The Histories relate the events which transpired in Rome, beginning with the accession of Galba, in 68, and ending with the reign of Domitian, in 97. Only four books and a fragment of a fifth have been preserved to us. These books contain an account of the brief reigns of Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. The portion of the fifth book which has been preserved contains an interesting, though rather biased account of the character, customs, and religion of the Jewish nation viewed from the standpoint of a cultivated citizen of Rome. Annals The Annals contain the history of the empire from the death of Augustus, in 14, to the death of Nero, in 68, and originally consisted of sixteen books. Of these, only nine have come down to us in a state of entire preservation, and of the other seven we have but fragments of three. Out of a period of fifty-four years, we have the history of about forty. The Style The style of Tacitus is, perhaps, noted principally for its conciseness. Tacitean brevity is proverbial, and many of his sentences are so brief, and leave so much for the student to read between the lines, that in order to be understood and appreciated the author must be read over and over again, lest the reader miss the point of some of his most excellent thoughts. Such an author presents grave, if not insuperable, difficulties to the translator, but notwithstanding this fact, the following pages cannot but impress the reader with the genius of Tacitus. The Life of Cnaeus Julius Agricola [This work is supposed by the commentators to have been written before the treatise on the manners of the Germans, in the third consulship of the emperor Nerva, and the second of Verginius Rufus, in the year of Rome 850, and of the Christian era 97. Brotier accedes to this opinion, but the reason which he assigns does not seem to be satisfactory. He observes that Tacitus, in the third section, mentions the emperor Nerva; but as he does not call him Divus Nerva, the deified Nerva, the learned commentator infers that Nerva was still living. This reasoning might have some weight, if we did not read, in section 44, that it was the ardent wish of Agricola that he might live to behold Trajan in the imperial seat. If Nerva was then alive, the wish to see another in his room would have been an awkward compliment to the reigning prince. It is, perhaps, for this reason, that Lipsius thinks this very elegant tract was written at the same time with the Manners of the Germans, in the beginning of the emperor Trajan. The question is not very material  since conjecture alone must decide it. The piece itself is admitted to be a masterpiece in the kind. Tacitus was son-in-law to Agricola; and while filial piety breathes through his work, he never departs from the integrity of his own character. He has left a historical monument highly interesting to every Briton, who wishes to know the manners of his ancestors, and the spirit of liberty that from the earliest time distinguished the natives of Britain. Agricola, as Hume observes, was the general who finally established the dominion of the Romans on this island. He governed  it in the reigns of Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. He carried his victorious arms northward: defeated the Britons in every encounter, pierced into the forests and the mountains of Caledonia, reduced every state to subjection in the southern parts of the island, and chased before him all the men of fiercer and more intractable spirits, who deemed war and death itself less int olerable than servitude under the victors. He defeated them in a decisive action, which they fought under Galgacus; and having fixed a chain of garrisons between the friths of Clyde and Forth, he cut off the ruder and more barren parts of the island, and secured the Roman province from the incursions of the barbarous inhabitants. During these military enterprises, he neglected not the arts of peace. He introduced laws and civility among the Britons; taught them to desire and raise all the conveniences of life; reconciled them to the Roman language and manners; instructed them in letters and science; and employed every expedient to render those chains, which he had forged, both easy and agreeable to them. (Humes Hist. vol. i. p. 9.) In this passage, Mr. Hume has given a summary of the Life of Agricola. It is extended by Tacitus in a style more open than the didactic form of the essay on the German Manners required, but still with the precision, both in sentiment and diction, peculiar to the author. In rich but subdued colors he gives a striking picture of Agricola, leaving to posterity a portion of history which it would be in vain to seek in the dry gazette-style of Suetonius, or on the page of any writer of that period.] Introduction | The Agricola | Translation Footnotes