The Triumph of Titus, Lawrence Alma-Tadema
Only free-born Roman men were allowed to wear the toga (symbol of citizenship). Putting on a toga was a difficult, not to say burdensome activity. The strip of fabric was folded lengthwise, one end was thrown over the left shoulder, a toga was placed over the back, the other end was passed under the right shoulder and thrown over the left shoulder from the front.
To facilitate this extremely careful activity, richer citizens had a special slave for this purpose, called vestiplicus. Women wore long, wide dresses with a belt at the table.
Sources
- Jeorome Carcopino, Życie codzienne w Rzymie w okresie rozkwitu cesarstwa, 1966
- Judith Lynn Sebesta i Larissa Bonfante, The World of Roman Costume
