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I always wondered where this garment came from. Obviously the indigenous people wouldn't have a need for the head-to-toe protection from the Sun that the garment affords.
So who invented it and when?
Djehuti Member # 6698
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The Thawb like the daffa, chador, and other concealing clothing are definitely not indigenous to Arabia but were introduced to the region by peoples of northern origin, specifically the non-black peoples who are the elite of Arabia today.
You can actually see the ancestors of light-skinned 'Arabs' or Asiatics in ancient Egyptian art as well as other artwork created themselves such as in ancient Assyria etc. You may have seen Asiatic men for example wearing daffa in tomb paintings and murals.
Original Arabian clothing was not much different from Africans with both men and women commonly going topless while wearing skirts. In fact there are even recent images from the 18th and early 19th century of dark-skinned or black women in rural parts of Arabia going topless. Apparently the Islam practiced in these areas was very lax unlike today.
AGÜEYBANÁ(Mind718) Member # 15400
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quote:Originally posted by Mike111: I've (edited) always wondered where this garment came from.
Not saying where it came from, but living in desert areas, you perhaps might want to protect your skin against the sand when the wind blows it at your body and face. Just a suggestion.
Brada-Anansi Member # 16371
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I am sure people on line here can tell you it can get down right cold in the desert areas especially at night, I did shore patrol back in the day in Bahrain and I can tell ya it was all pea-coats,gloves and watch caps.
Mike111 Member # 9361
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Djehuti - I could find no definition or picture of a Daffa.
Brada-Anansi - Robes for warmth, are quite different from a Thawb
Djehuti Member # 6698
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^ My Arabic is likely wrong, but daffa may refer to clothing for men. Specifically the thawb and galabiya.
tomb mural of thawb predecessors
Many pictures of Asiatic men are shown topless with short skirts
other pictures show men wearing long shawls or 'coats'.
^Notice above that the darker skinned Asiatics are topless while the lighter skinned ones wear thawb.
It's true. That Egyptians and other Africans didn't go topless all the time as there were cold temperatures as well. We know those who could afford it wore linen robes, while others simply wore shawls over their scanty clothing. But it is not of the same design as the thawb type clothing.
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