Mesopotamia

Welcome to the inaugural post of Costume History by Hip Frippery!  I’ve debated over the format I’ll be using as far as time periods go.  It only makes sense to start at the beginning, and work our way forward chronologically, but that could leave many of you desperately bored if your favorite time periods are more recent, i.e. from the 20^th century.  We can also jump around a little, but it might leave some of you left-brainers a tad frustrated.  I’d love your feedback if you have an opinion on the matter.  As it is, my left brain has currently dominated.  Therefore, I will start all the way back in the prehistoric world, the “cradle of civilization,” as it were.  I present to you:

Mesopotamia

A word of Greek origin meaning “between two rivers,” Mesopotamia refers to a region located mostly in modern day Iraq.  Parts of the region also extended into modern day Iran, Turkey, and Syria.  The “two rivers” to which the name refers are the Tigris and Euphrates.  This is arguably the first civilization found on Earth, although evidence has been found indicating other areas as the first.

Mesopotamia’s first civilization, the Sumerians, ruled from around 3000 BC – 2000 BC.  In the earliest times, men and women used animal hides to cover and protect their bodies.  As new techniques were invented, including felting and weaving, they were able to create fabric, usually out of wool, which was wrapped around the waist and secured with thick belts.  These  skirts, as well as cloaks, were called kaunakes and were worn by both men and women.  Although soldiers’ kaunakes were mostly plain and unadorned, the rest of civilization wore tufted or fringed versions.  The length of the skirt arguably indicated the social status or wealth of the individual wearing it. 

 

Small statue of Eannatum, a Sumerian king, wearing kaunakes

 

Traditional male and female kaunakes

Over time, these formless and primarily utilitarian garments began to take more of a definite shape, and by around 2100 BC the surplice had evolved.  The surplice, also a fringed garment, had long, loose sleeves and an opening for the head.  Artwork recovered from this time period indicates that clothing was dyed in colors such as red, grey, gold, and white.

  

Examples of men wearing fringed surplices

These fashions continued into the Babylonian and Assyrian dynasties (around 2000 BC – 600 BC), becoming more elaborate and with more variation in styles.  Simple jewelry, including earrings and hair rings, became more common as well as caps made from leather or fur.

Persia

Oh, Persia.  Coming along and changing everything like you own the place.  I guess they did, actually.  In 600 BC, Cyrus II overran and conquered the other Mesopotamian civilizations.  With this new empire in place, clothing and its varying styles were influenced by Persia’s ruler and Mesopotamia’s new inhabitants.  And they brought pants.  Pants!  Other influences included makeup and body paint worn by both men and women, a wider variety of dyes in vibrant and bright colors, new hat styles, and a fabulous new fabric: silk.  

Examples of bright Persian colors

Persian king Darius and his attendants

I also thought you'd like to see some modern fashions that appear to have been inspired by this fashion era in history.  Oh, the hidden treasures you'll find when conducting a google image search:

Kaunakes

Surplice

And that is Mesopotamia.  I hope you liked it!  Next week, we will travel over to another ancient, but decidedly contrasting civilization: Egypt.  Have a great week, y’all!