Wilton, Mary Margaret Stanley Egerton: The Book of costume or, Annals of fashion: from the earliest period to the present time (London: Henry Colburn, Publisher, 1847)

390

THE TOILETTE IN GREECE.

and with a fringe


at the bottom. The richest tunics
were made of silk, and they were
fastened at the waist by a girdle or
belt.
The upper - garment worn by
Grecian women was called ampe-
chone; it was a kind of light
cloak.
The Grecian matrons were, like
the ladies of most other nations,
fond of dress and ornament, and
also of perfumes. The following de-
scription of the goddess Saturnia,
given by Homer, is applicable to
them :

“ Swift to her bright apartment she repairs,
Sacred to dress and beauty’s pleasing cares.
* * *
Here first she bathes, and round her body pours
Soft oils of fragrance and ambrosial showers.
* * *
Her artful hands the radiant tresses ty’d;
Part on her head in shining ringlets roll’d,
Part o’er her shoulders wav’d like melted gold.
Around her next a heavenly mantle flow’d,
That rich with Pallas’ labour’d colours glow’d ;
Large clasps of gold the foldings gather’d round,
A golden zone her swelling bosom bound ;
Ear-beaming pendants tremble in her ear,
Each gem illumin’d with a triple star.
Then o’er her head she casts a veil, more white
Than new-fall’n snow, and dazzling as the light.
Last her fair feet celestial sandals grace.”

The principal occupations and amusements of wo-