Chap. 74.] 
DirEEEENT KINDS OP CLOTHS. 
337 
as the Phryxian togas,^^ began to be used in tlie latter part of* the 
reign of Augustus. Thick stuffs, in the preparation of which 
the poppy^^ was used, are of more ancient date, being men- 
tioned by the poet Lucilius, in his lines on Torquatus. The 
praetexta^^ had its origin among the Etrurians. I find thai: 
the trabea^^ was first worn by the kings ; embroidered garments 
are mentioned by Homer,^^ and in this class originated the 
triumphal robes. The Phrygians first used the needle for 
this purpose, and hence this kind of garment obtained the 
name of Phrj^gionian. King Attains, who also lived in Asia, 
invented the art of embroidering with gold, from which these 
garments have been called Attalic.^^ Babylon was very famous 
for making embroidery in different colours, and hence stuffs of 
this kind have obtained the name of Eabylonian.^^ The me- 
thod of weaving cloth with more than two threads was in- 
According to Hardouin, tliese were cloths which imitated the crisp 
and prominent hair of the Phryxian fleece, Lemaire, vol. iii. p. 529. Some 
editions read " Phrygianas." 
^'Papaverata ;" there is considerable difficulty in ascertaining the 
meaning of this word, as applied to garments. Pliny, in two other passages, 
speaks of a certain species of poppy — " from this, linens receive a peculiar 
whiteness," B. xix. From this, linens receive a brilliant whiteness in 
time," B. xx. c. 78. It would appear, in these cases, that the fibres of the 
stem of the poppy were mixed with the flax ; though, perhaps, this would 
be scarcely practicable with wool. — B. 
The prgetexta is described by Yarro as a white toga, with a purple 
band ; it was worn by males, until their seventeenth year, and by young 
Avomen until their marriage. — B. 
°^ The trabea difi'ered from the prsetexta, in being ornamented with 
stripes (trabes) of purple, whence its name. — B. 
^'^ Helen is introduced, II. B. iii. 1. 125, weaving an embroidered gar- 
ment, in which were figured the battles of the Greeks and Trojans. It was 
probably somewhat of the nature of modern tapestry. — B. 
«8 See B. ix. c. 60. 
59 This passage, in which the needle is said to have been used, proves 
that when the word " pictse" is applied to garments, it is equivalent to our 
term " embroidered." — B. 
Pliny refers to the "' Attalica tunica," B. xxxiii. c. 29, and to the 
Attalica vestis," B. xxxvi. c. 20, and B. xxxvii. c. 6 ; Propertius speaks 
of Attalica aulsea," B. ii. c. 32, 1. 12, " Attalicas torus," B. ii. c. 13, 1. 22, 
and B. iv. c. 5, 1. 24, and " Attalic£e vestes," B. iii. c. 18, 1. 19.— B. 
6i Plautus,^ Stich. A. ii. s. 2, 1. 54, speaks of Babylonica peristromata, 
consuta tapetia," Babylonian hangings, and embroidered tapestry and 
Martial, B. viii, Ep. 28, I. 17, 18, of " Babylonica texta," Babylonian 
textures." — B. 
VOL. II. 
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