Excuse me for a second, I see a rear end that's in good need of kicking...
Ancient Greek clothing was simple and timelessly elegant, usually made in the home or bought at the local Agora. Contrary to popular belief, Greek apparel was not limited to pristine white, but could feature a variety of vivid colors. White was still common, especially for the poor, but grey, green, violet, brown and red dyes were also made use of. The clothes were often intricately pleated and embroidered with a myriad of patterns, varying from region to region.
The Khiton
The Khiton (Latinized Chiton, Romanized Tunica) was the most common article of clothing worn by the men and women of Greece, lasting from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period. It was a simple tunic fashioned from a rectangular piece of cloth, usually made of light linen during the summer and heavy wool in the winter. Khitons were pinned or sewn at the borders and usually held on the waist with a belt or girdle, which was worn around the waist by men. Women could girdle their ankle-length Khitons at the waist, under the breast, or wear a double girdle in both places, to create elaborate drapery. A heavy woolen female Khiton called also be called a Peplos, especially when worn with an overfold. The Khiton was often worn with a himation (robe), epiblema (shawl) or chlamys (cloak) over it, and when worn alone, it was technically called a Monokhiton. The Khiton was a very versatile garment, as it could easily be used as a blanket or a sack as well as for clothing. It could be worn and draped in various styles.
KhitoniskosThe most common tunic for men was the Khitoniskos, or short Khiton. It went down to the knees and was typically worn by soldiers, farmers, hunters and especially in the hot summer season. The gods Hermes and Artemis seem to favour this tunic, due to its versatility and the freedom of movement it allowed.
Doric KhitonThe Doric Khiton could be worn plain or with an overfold called an apotygma which is more common to women. It was draped and fastened at the shoulder by Fibulae (pin brooches) or it could be sewn or buttoned. The Doric style was simple and elegant, but fell out of fashion in the Hellenistic period, replaced with the Ionic Khiton.
Ionic KhitonThe Ionic Khiton was long and more expansive than the Doric, resembling the Peplos in several ways. The cloth was held in place from the neck to the wrists, either with the seams sewn or a series of pins holding the cloth together at varying intervals, creating intricate rivulets of draped cloth. The cloth was pulled up around the belt or sash because it was often longer than the height of the wearer.
Khiton PoderesThe Khiton Poderes, or long Khiton, went down to the heels. It was typically worn by priests, charioteers, officials and the elderly. An even longer and rather unwieldy variety existed called the Khiton Syrtos, which dragged along the ground. Dionysos and Aphrodite were known to have preferred the long Khiton, as it was seen as somewhat feminine, though still worn by men.
The Himation
The Himation was a much heavier garment than the Khiton (although less expansive than the Roman Toga). It was typically worn like a cloak over a Khiton, but it could be worn alone, whereupon it was called an Akhiton. Himations were more common among men, who draped it in a variety of ways. Married women, however, often wore the Himation with a corner draped over their head like a veil. When men wore himations, they made sure to keep the edges from dragging on the ground because to do so was considered in poor taste. Fashionable men carefully wrapped their himation over their left shoulder, because to bare one's left shoulder was a sign of barbarism, or being uncivilized.
Doric HimationDoric Himations were often worn Akhiton, particularly by older men and ministers. It was also popular in Athens during Hellenistic times, respected for its stately simplicity, and eventually became emblematic of the philosopher. Regal gods like Zeus, Poseidon and Hades favoured the Akhiton Himation.
Ionic HimationIonic Himations tended to be worn over Khitoniskoi, and were dyed in a variety of bright colours. Modest deities like Hestia, Asklepios and Athena are often portrayed wearing these cloaks, and shawls (Epiblemai) are also occasionally worn over them.
The Exomis
The Exomis (exo "outside", omos "shoulder") was a lighter and cooler tunic worn commonly by farmers, craftsmen, shepherds, hunters and soldiers. Hoplite soldiers began to wear it instead of the Khitoniskos during the Hellenistic period. An Exomis was made of one or two rectangles of cloth, and could be simply draped over the left shoulder and belted at the waist, or more elaborately sewn into a loose sleeve over the left arm. Often, a brooch or cord held the cloth together at the shoulder. The Exomis represents the humble worker or warrior, and was far more common in the hot countryside.
Short Exomis and Tainia HeadbandHypnos wears a short, loosely draped Exomis with a headband called a Tainia. The Tainia was the traditional name for the Greek athlete's headband, which was worn by youths to keep their unshorn hair away from their faces, and also by men during athletic contests (although unlike Hypnos here, the Tania was usually the ONLY thing that men wore while competing!).
Long Exomis and Laurel WreathThanatos is featured in a longer Exomis which is brooched at the shoulder. He also (grudgingly) wears a Laurel wreath, symbolizing triumph. A Laurel wreath was awarded to the victors of physical competitions as well as poetic meetings. The Laurel was sacred to Apollon, who fashioned the first wreath from the tree which his spurned love Daphne had been transformed into.
The Khlamys
The Khlamys (Latinized Chlamys, Romanized Chlanis) was the rustic cloak of Ancient Greece. Also called the Ephaptis, the Khlamys was very popular among soldiers and messengers. Archaic cloaks were wrapped around the waist, but in Classical times they were more commonly seen draped over the shoulders and pinned with a type of brooch known as a Fibula, almost always at the right shoulder. It could be worn over a Khiton or an Exomis, but usually it was the sole article of clothing, draped over the front and back of the body with the right side open. In such a manner, it could be used by soldiers as a rudimentary shield for the left arm. Sometimes weights were placed at the corners of the cloak for the sake of modesty. It was a perfect garment for long distance travel, as it was cool and could be used as a blanket or even a tent.
Short Khlamys and Petasos HatHypnos is portrayed here wearing a short messengers Khlamys along with a sunhat called a Petasos. The Petasos was Thessalian in origin, and was the first crafted hat in history. It was usually made of wool felt, leather or straw, with a broad, floppy brim. Farmers and travellers often wore Petasoi, giving it a distinctly rural reputation. Along with the Khlamys, the Petasos became the signature clothing of the messenger god Hermes.
Long Khlamys and Pilos CapThanatos wears a longer soldiers Khlamys and a Pilos, or Phrygian Cap. In Antiquity, Phrygian caps were worn in the Anatolian region of Phrygia. They came to represent foreign or mystical influences among the Hellenes. Trojans like Paris are identified in art by the Phrygian caps they wear, as are the Dioskouroi; Kastor and Polydeukes.
Greek Armour
The citizen-soldiers of the Ancient Greek city-states were known as Hoplites. Hoplites were primarily armed as spear-men and fought in a phalanx formation, although the term itself came to generally represent any armed and armoured soldier. Each hoplite had to provide his own equipment, and there was little standardization among the ranks. Breastplates, helmets and shields were usually uniquely crafted and passed down through family generations. Ornamentation, including crests and shield motifs, varied from region to region.
Athenian Armour and Korinthian HelmHypnos is here arrayed in typical Athenian armour, including a light linothorax breastplate, greaves, a shield, spear and Korinthian helm. The Korinthian helm, perhaps the most iconic Greek helmet, originated in the city-state of Korinthos (modern day Corinth). It was a bronze helmet protecting the entire head and neck, with narrow slits for the eyes and mouth, sacrificing vision and hearing for greater protection. It was very popular in early warfare but gradually fell out of favour as more open-faced helmets were utilized. The goddess Athena is particularly recognized by this helmet, which she wears tipped upwards from her face.
Spartan Armour and Crested Spartan HelmThanatos is sporting similar Spartan armour, which includes largely the same components. His Korinthian helm exhibits a horse-hair crest. Such decorations were common in ancient artwork, but much less so in historical warfare. Crested helms were usually for ceremonial purposes, and each city-state tended to feature a distinguishing crest design, ranging from this simple Spartan crest to the grand and ostentatious Thracian crests. The ruthless war-god Ares was said to have a helmet crested with human hair, sheared from warriors he has defeated in battle.
Bronze Plate Armour and Illyrian HelmThe most archaic of Greek armour was simply bronze plated. A bronze breastplate was extremely uncomfortable to wear and could cause hoplites to collapse from dehydration. Nevertheless, if it was well crafted and fit the chest snugly, it was an effective defence. Hypnos is also wearing an Illyrian helmet, a helm design which grew more popular than the Korinthian design in Hellenistic times as it did not impair vision or hearing nearly as much. The sword Hypnos brandishes is known as a Xiphos. Xiphoi are double-edged, straight-bladed broadswords held in one hand, typically made of bronze or iron. It was the standard secondary weapon used in battle, drawn for close combat or when the enemy was in retreat.
Laquered Plate Armour and Chalcidian HelmChalcidian Helms were a popular kind of helmet believed to have originated in Khalkis. They were particularly common in southern Italy, and during the time of Alexander the great, they were the most common helmet used by Greek hoplites (except for the Spartans, who preferred the simple metal pilos helmet). Thanatos also wields a curved, single-edged sword, called a Makhaira or Kopis (depending on the curvature of the blade). This sword was less favoured among hoplites than the Xiphos, but the curved blade made it an effective weapon for mounted combat.
