DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1021#0210
160 THE MYCENAEAN AGE
the lead statuette found (1890) by Dr. Tsountas in a bee-
hive tomb at Kampos in Laconia, and here reproduced in
full size, front and back views (Plate XVII.). Whether this
be taken for an idol or an athlete, it certainly exemplifies
the elementary costume of the race. The breech-cloth, or
loin-apron, drawn between the legs and girded at the waist,
is too sharply defined to require any description. This
simple costume recurs again and again, notably on the
Vaphio cups, where, however, the men's
aprons appear to hang free from the
belt. So on a solid red jasper ring (Fig.
54), found in 1892 at Mycenae and
Fig. 54. jasper King now first published, we have a clouted
man holding at arms' length two lions, one by the throat,
the other by the heels. But in this case the belt-ends hang
<lown almost to the man's knees, and the apron-costume is
supplemented by greaves strapped at knee and ankle, and
by sandals turning up at the toes. Other variations are
shown in two bronze idols (Figs. 55, 56); and on some
monuments — witness the lion-hunters on the inlaid dagger-
blade (Fig. 89) — they take the form of bathing-drawers
pure and simple.
This apron, now, is undoubtedly the primitive, and must
have long remained the sole, garment of the Mycenaean
man, except as the cold compelled him to add the chlaina,
or cloak, which was often nothing but the hide of a beast
thrown over the shoulders. The apron leaves the limbs
free play, and so we find it generally worn by men, not only
in the Mycenaean age but even on occasion by the later
Hellenes, as well as by the Romans and the peoples of
Northern Europe.1
1 Cf. Studniczka, Beitr. zur Gesck. der alt-griechischen Tracht, p. 31 ; Darem-
berg et Saglio : Diet, des aniiquites s. v. cinetus ; and Sophus Miiller, Die Nor-
dische Bronzezeit, p. 106.
the lead statuette found (1890) by Dr. Tsountas in a bee-
hive tomb at Kampos in Laconia, and here reproduced in
full size, front and back views (Plate XVII.). Whether this
be taken for an idol or an athlete, it certainly exemplifies
the elementary costume of the race. The breech-cloth, or
loin-apron, drawn between the legs and girded at the waist,
is too sharply defined to require any description. This
simple costume recurs again and again, notably on the
Vaphio cups, where, however, the men's
aprons appear to hang free from the
belt. So on a solid red jasper ring (Fig.
54), found in 1892 at Mycenae and
Fig. 54. jasper King now first published, we have a clouted
man holding at arms' length two lions, one by the throat,
the other by the heels. But in this case the belt-ends hang
<lown almost to the man's knees, and the apron-costume is
supplemented by greaves strapped at knee and ankle, and
by sandals turning up at the toes. Other variations are
shown in two bronze idols (Figs. 55, 56); and on some
monuments — witness the lion-hunters on the inlaid dagger-
blade (Fig. 89) — they take the form of bathing-drawers
pure and simple.
This apron, now, is undoubtedly the primitive, and must
have long remained the sole, garment of the Mycenaean
man, except as the cold compelled him to add the chlaina,
or cloak, which was often nothing but the hide of a beast
thrown over the shoulders. The apron leaves the limbs
free play, and so we find it generally worn by men, not only
in the Mycenaean age but even on occasion by the later
Hellenes, as well as by the Romans and the peoples of
Northern Europe.1
1 Cf. Studniczka, Beitr. zur Gesck. der alt-griechischen Tracht, p. 31 ; Darem-
berg et Saglio : Diet, des aniiquites s. v. cinetus ; and Sophus Miiller, Die Nor-
dische Bronzezeit, p. 106.