Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2006 - 49

struction of emorales, as to whether or not they featured a crotch or
back seam, etc. I theorize that they were made from tubes of cloth,
slipped over the wearer's legs and then attached to an undergarment.
Fibula, ae: ancient safety pins. Fibulae varied in size, shape, and
construction but their usage was universal: pinning clothing closed. The
Latin word is used for various cultures, including Greek and Gaulic. I
have yet to find the Greek equivalent term.
Flammeum, -ei: "veil of the Roman matron" (Russell 1983, 486).
The word stems from the Latin root for "fiery, flaming," referring to the
bright orange veil worn by Roman brides-significant of the hearth.
While Russell uses the term more broadly, the Romans used this term
specifically in conjunction with marriage (LPS 7, 8). This was simply a
brightly dyed rectangle of cloth that was draped over the wearer's head,
and torso.
Laena and paenula, -ae: simple woolen outer-wraps or cloaks.
Apparently the terms for these cloaks are derived from the tribes by
which they were worn. Both Laena and Paenula were Roman surnames
that date back to the Etruscan monarchy. There are no dictionary entries
for either word, except for the original surnames (Crawley 2006).
Russell states that the paenula was "probably more often worn than any
other wrap, was a cape, open down the center front, often with a peaked
hood and collar" (Russell 1983, 78). While I have found sources neither
to confirm nor deny this statement, I wonder at the complex construction
of it in a time of wraps and pinned garments.
Palla, -ae: a long over-garment worn by Roman matrons. The word
actually is derived from Pallas, the Roman name for Athena, and the
word for the cloak worn by the goddess. The palla was made from wool
and could be used as a cloak or veil. It later evolves into a cloak for actors, soldiers, and ecclesiastic garments (LSJ; Russell 1983). Often referenced as the "palla superba" which literally translates to "the superior/
excellent palla" (LPS 9, 10); which must be in reference to its function as
a modesty garment. The palla was constructed in the same manner as the
himation.
Pallium, -ii: a "Greek" cloak worn while in Greece by Roman citizens. The word stems from "palla" for "covering" (Lewis 1879). The
term is later applied to a Byzantine ecclesiastic garment (Russell 1983,
488). The pallium was considered a Greek version of the toga (see LPS
13). I have found no sources as to the construction of this garment, but I
would guess that is was a rectangular version of the toga.
Paludamentum, -i: a long cloak worn by the military, originally by
generals. The words stems from the word "palla/pallium" for covering.
The word seems to be of later Roman origin, from the late Republic or
Empire as it is referred to by Livius and Pliny (LPS 14, 15). The
paludamentum eventually becomes a status garment in the Byzantine
courts, and slowly evolved into the medieval mantle (Russell 1983, 488).
The paludamentum was made by pinning a half-circle of cloth over the
wearer's shoulder.
Pedulis, -e: a sole or involving something for the feet. The term
stems from the Roman root for the word foot, "ped", and specifically refers to the sole of a shoe. Later, this term is applied to "pedules", a Byzantine/medieval "sock-boot" (Russell 1983, 488). The word is mostly
found in documents from the Empire. Byzantine pedules were formed by
attaching a leather sole to felt or cloth uppers, likely bands of cloth to be
wrapped around the wearer's calves. Traditional Roman shoes were sim-

THEATRE

DESIGN

TECHNOLOGY
SUMMER

2006

FIBULA
SAGULUM

LAENA
OR
PAENULA

PALUDAMENTUM

PEDULIS

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2006