Egyptian Clothing and Adornment
Styles of Dress and Body Decoration in Ancient Egypt
The clothing of the Ancient Egyptians was worn practically to deal with the hot summers, and a garment's adornment was representative of wealth and social class.
The Ancient Egyptians were, in short, clean-freaks. They tried their best to avoid the common infections and illnesses of their day by bathing frequently and shaving off all of their body hair. This ritual not only made them feel cleaner, but it gave them a palette upon which to create one of the most unique cultural looks in all of history.
Ancient Egyptian clothing, like that of the Romans, very much represented who the Egyptian wearing the garment was in society. One could tell by looking at any Egyptian whether he or she was wealthy, royalty, or working class. One thing that Egyptians shared in common where their clothing was concerned was that it was all made from linen. Linen came from flax, which was a plant native to the region. Harvesting flax was difficult work done mostly by the men, and the fibers were spun and weaved into fabric. Linen is a durable fabric and is very cool, making it ideal for the Egyptians to have worn, especially during the brutal summer months.
All Egyptian men, regardless of social class, wore an apron-like garment that tied in front. Through the years, the length of the apron (also compared to a kilt) ranged from above the knee to below it. Wealthy Egyptian men wore a transparent ankle-length robe over this apron. Less wealthy men also wore this robe, but it was not as transparent. In fact, the level of transparency was symbolic of an Egyptian man’s wealth and importance, with the Pharaoh’s robe being the most transparent of all garments. The Pharaoh's clothing would have also been very stylized, often adorned with colored feathers.
The working Egyptian man would have worn a linen or animal hide loincloth during work, along with a fitted tunic. Slaves, on the other hand, usually worked in the nude.
Egyptian men shaved their heads, faces, and bodies, and bathed often. Most men wore wigs on their heads, and royalty wore elaborate headpieces, sometimes made of gold and inlaid with precious stones. They also wore eyeliner made from khol (a black dye), which would have helped to cut down on glare, as well as prevent eye infections that were common at the time. Shoes were only worn for special occasions, and those were sandals made of leather and papyrus.
Priests, who were the holiest of all Egyptians, were also required to be the cleanest. They bathed several times daily, and also removed all body hair. This was an act of purification that was thought to put them closes to Amon (father of the Egyptian gods). Priests were also not allowed to wear any kind of shoes, and they could only wear linen clothing, as wool was considered impure.
All Egyptian women wore long, straight dresses that were tied at the neck or shoulders with straps. Sometimes a woman wore a short robe or jacket to cover her shoulders, or she wore a short-sleeved dress. The wealthy Egyptian woman wore a pleated dress and a shawl.
Women always bathed each day before dressing, and applied a scented oil or perfume all over their bodies. They, too, rid their heads and bodies of all hair. They wrapped linen cloths around their heads and wore wigs that were made of human hair or wool, which they would style using ivory or bone pins and headbands. Egyptian women were quite fond of making up their faces, decorating their eyes with kohl, using a reed brush to apply it. Their lips and nails were stained red with henna.
All Egyptians were fond of jewelry and adornment, even the less wealthy. But the wealthier the Egyptian, the bigger and more elaborate the jewelry. Collars, bracelets worn on the upper arms, headbands, earrings, rings, and anklets were made of gold and colorful precious stones. Less wealthy Egyptians fashioned jewelry from colored terra cotta beads.
The Ancient Egyptians went to great lengths to clean and purify themselves, and to adorn their bodies with cosmetics, jewelry, and clothing that displayed their pride, importance, and social status.
Sources consulted:
"Ancient Egyptian Clothes." Retrieved from http://kingtutshop.com/freeinfo/Ancient-Egyptian-Clothes.htm on 15 June 2007.
"Ancient Egyptian Clothing." Retrieved from http://www.dragonstrike.com/egypt/cloth.htm on 15 June 2007.
"Egypt: Clothing Types." Retrieved from http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00327/eclothing/html.
