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Toga


The toga was the distinctive garb of Ancient Rome. It consisted of a long sash of cloth, folded in a particular way, that was worn over a tunic. The sash went over the left shoulder and under the right arm.

The toga was the characteristic garment of male Roman citizens. Non-citizens were not allowed to wear one. The corresponding formal garment for women was the stola.

In the earliest days of the Roman Kingdom and Roman republic, the toga was worn even in wartime. However, the garment was not practical for battle and difficult to wear with armour, so the toga was abandoned as a wartime garment. This caused the toga to be associated with peace; it was the essential garb for Romans who were acting in public, civic, legal, and other official functions. It continued to be so even late in the Roman empire, when the toga had been largely abandoned as ordinary clothing.

There were certain kinds of toga that were associated with various ranks and official functions. These included:

The English word "candidate" is derived from the toga candida.

External link

How to make a toga: http://www.novaroma.org/via_romana/reenactments/toga.html


Toga is also a village in Toyama, Japan.