BOOK VIII. Lxxiv. 194-196 



LXXIV. Marcus Varro informs us, on his own Wooiien 

 authority, that the wool on the distaff and spindle of f^broidery 

 Tanaquil (who was also called Gaia Caeciha) was still dyeing. 

 preserved in the temple of Sancus ; and also in the 

 shrine of Fortune a pleated royal robe made by her, 

 which had been worn by Servius TulHus. Hence 

 arose the practice that maidens at their marriage were 

 accompanied by a decorated distaff and a spindle with 

 thread. Tanaquil first wove a straight tunic of the 

 kind that novices wear with the plain white toga, 

 and newly married brides. The pleated robe was 

 the first among those most in favour ; consequently 

 the spotted robe went out of fashion. Fenestella 

 writes that togas of smooth cloth and of Phryxian 

 wool began in the latest times of the late lamented 

 Augustus. Togas of closely woven poppy-cloth have " 

 an older source, being noticed as far back as the poet 

 LuciHus in the case of Torquatus. Bordered robes 

 found their origin with the Etruscans. I find it 

 recorded that striped robes were worn by the kings, 

 and they had embroidered robes as far back as 

 Homer,'' these being the origin of those worn in 

 triumphs. Embroidering with the needle was dis- 

 covered by the Phrygians, and consequently em- 

 broidered robes are called Phrygian. Gold em- 

 broidery was also invented in Asia, by King Attalus, 

 from whom Attahc robes got their name. Weaving 

 different colours into a pattern was chiefly brought 

 into vogue by Babylon, which gave its name to this 

 process. But the fabric called damask woven with 

 a number of threads was introduced by Alexandria, 

 and check patterns by Gaul. Metellus Scipio 

 counts it among the charges against Capito that 

 Babylonian coverlets were already then sold for 



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