The Dress of the Bible

The collective name for clothes is begadim, which were made out of linen, wool, and cotton; although silk is also mentioned. Clothing prepared from wool and linen was prohibited. Costly clothing was of diverse colors, and of needlework. Luxury in, and imitation of, foreign fashions are often censured. The costume of both sexes were similar; there was sufficient difference, however to mark the sex. The articles of clothing common to men and women were: (1) The undergarment, which was held together by a girdle, and besides which a linen shirt is sometimes mentioned. A person who had only this undergarment on, was called naked. Persons in high stations wore two undergarments, the outer one being the robe. (2) The over-garment, which was thrown around the person. Poor people and travelers also, use the outer garment as night-clothes. Both sexes made out of the superabundant folds, in front, a pocket or lap. Priests alone wore a kind of drawers. Besides these dresses, the women word veils. Both sexes covered the head with a turban made of diverse articles.. The covering of the feet was sandals of leather or wood, bound to the foot with thongs; they were dispensed with indoors, and put on when leaving the house. On entering sacred places, the sandals were cast off. Both sexes wore bracelets and earrings. Other ornaments were nose rings, made of precious metal or ivory, the signet, which was suspended by a string; necklaces, formed of perforated gold drops strung together; to which must be added the anklets - an especial ornament of the women - which were connected with step-chains, to announce their coming, and to attract or drive away the opposite sex. The temple guards in their light grey uniforms.

He was interrupted by a ragged, black-bearded man who stepped casually from concealment. He wore a long tunic which divided into two parts from the belt downward. His bony ankles showed just above dusty, worn sandals. This was the costume of the Jewish working class. He wasn't a Sicarius, for he was armed with a heavy Roman javelin, or pilum. (bandit) The Judean hills were full of them .. Gentile slave - slightly lightly colored, and only a stubble showed on his cheeks.. The slaves collar was prominent, with the wide identification tag at the bottom of the collar, reflecting the sun.. They wondered why the slaves collar hadn't been removed, if he had joined a bandit gang Although all the Jews were Hellenized to some extent, with some shaving their faces and cutting their hair short in the Greco-Roman fashion, this man wore a full beard, in the traditional Jewish manner. They valued a full beard. He began removing his simple one piece white robe to gird his loins. Red-caped cavalry men and the cordon of armed foot legionnaires.

Wherever Jesus looked there were priests. On the day of the temple cleansing, 20,000 of them were registered in the temple and got their living from it. The place swarmed with men in ceremonial costume-Levites with pointed caps and large pockets in which they carried the books of the law; Pharisees with their broad philacteries and deep white fringes on purple gowns; solemn Essenes in white robes - and with them from Galilee and Judea and the land beyond Jordan, dressed like a woman of the people in a coarse blue garment. Her hair was plainly braided, and there was no paint on her face. This scion of aristocracy, has no doubt seen other noted Pharisee and scribes listening in on the revolutionary teaching of this new Rabbi, and has stopped to learn what this new teaching is all about. His colorful turban, brocaded coat, and brilliant sash are indicative of wealth, leisure, and material possessions. Palestinian Jew, and as such the color of his skin would be olive his eyes brown, and his nose hooked. Palestinian Jews had black hair and usually wore it long and carefully groomed. He wore a sleeveless undergarment with a girdle, the customary cloak and sandals, and carried a staff on journeys.

Bracelets were very popular in ancient times, often gorgeously inlaid with precious stones and pearls. Popular in Egypt and Phoenicia as well as Assyria and later in Rome. Tunic translated coat.. (mantle or cloak). The presentation of a robe in many instances amounted to installation or investiture; on the other hand, taking it away amounted to dismissal from office. The production of the best robe was a mark of special honor in a household. The number of robes thus received or kept in store for presents was very large and formed one of the main elements of wealth in the east. (luxurious articles, tinkling ornaments, jewelry, etc.) The chief garments of the Hebrews were the tunic or inner garment and the mantle or outer garment. These seem to have constituted a change of raiment. The tunic was of linen, and was worn next to the skin, fitting close to the body.. The head was usually bare, or covered from too fierce a sunshine or rain, by a fold of the outer mantle. The priests, however, wore a mitre, bonnet, or sacred turban; and after the captivity.. the turban.. The great or wealthy delighted in white raiment, and hence this is also a mare of opulence and prosperity.. lay up stores of raiment.. Sometimes used a variety of colors for their gayer and more costly dresses.. Blue, scarlet and purple.. Embroidery and fine needlework highly valued.. Widows wore black.

Others were in elegant robes, with tunics of silken gold and silver slippers. Others were sparsely clad, barefoot and in rags. She was dressed in a simple white gown that fell to her feet and wore a plain gold band around her swanlike throat. The red-cloaked Roman soldiers stood in full battle array. The usual coin collection dangling between the curve of her eyebrows and the curve of her hair.. the simple toga which was the mark of a Roman citizen.. On this day Herod wore his kingly, almost Oriental, robes with jeweled clasps and a jeweled belt, a coronet of emeralds on his head.. on his wrists he wore bands of gold, set with other emeralds and rubies and sapphires, and his fingers were stiff with rings. He wore heavy sandals secured by thongs which would about his ankles, plus a wool robe which fastened at one shoulder, leaving the other free.. A tall pair dressed in the cheapest cloths, shod in heavy sandals and carrying staves. On their backs they carried a little food, in their purses a few pieces of silver. Romans wore battle dress, short military skirts, metal studded sandals, shin guards, loose-fitting garments about their shoulders, and marks of their rank. They were resolute, relaxed, warriors, ready at the command of their general to kill a hundred thousand Jews if necessary for the completion of their assignment.
[322, 325, 347, 371, 377, 322, BD, 380, 383, 390, 392]



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