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I have often wondered, who introduced what is now thought of, as "traditional Arab dress". The Arabs certainly didn't, in ancient stele they are depicted as shirtless and wearing kilts, the same as Egyptians. Having dark skin, they didn't need additional protection from the sun.
Which leads me to believe that this is a Turkish invention, Turks being Caucasians, would need to completely cover themselves for protection from the sun. Thus the use of the jallabiya (robes) and the hattah (headscarf). Any thoughts?
Evergreen Member # 12192
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quote:Originally posted by Mike111:
Which leads me to believe that this is a Turkish invention, Turks being Caucasians, would need to completely cover themselves for protection from the sun. Thus the use of the jallabiya (robes) and the hattah (headscarf). Any thoughts?
I do recall reading that the headscarf was related to protection from headlice in this region. I may be wrong.
Stone Member # 14116
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Most of the people in the Mediterranean wore a loincloth. The shift probably came with advancements in the production of cloth and a wide accessibility in the antiquity. I can imagine that in winter or at night these people still wore some sort of protection against the cold and with a larger availability they used cloth has a physical protection against the sun.
posted
^^The garment covering the lower part of the body, worn by the Egyptians and other men of the region, is called a kilt. It was made of finely woven linen. It is in no-way related to the jallabiya and the hattah.
Likewise, I fail to see the relevance of the Paestum fresco: men in a bathhouse would likely be unclothed. However, it is interesting, in that it appears more Etruscan than Greek. And even more-so; in that it depicts the original inhabitants of Greece, rather than the later arriving Caucasian Greeks (hellenes).
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