Civilian Intro Page In many respects, civilian life in Ancient Rome was more diverse than military life. Senators, slaves, freedmen, equestrians, farmers, priests...the list goes on and on. And when speaking about Ancient Rome, the phrase "the clothes make the man" could not be more appropriate. The social classes in Rome could be differentiated by the clothing that it's members wore. A lot of it is common sense: wool was readily available, so the poorer citizens would generally wear wool, while more expensive fibers and dyes, such as cotton, linen, and silk in many colours would be worn by citizens who were better off. Colours were another way to tell the difference between the social classes. The Emperor and his family were the only ones allowed to wear purple. Senators were allowed a purple stripe on their toga. Equestrians had a red stripe. Men (and women of ill-repute) wore togas. Everyone wore a tunica; men wore theirs short, women wore theirs longer. The members of Legion II try to be as historically accurate as possible with their outfits, but modern (and financial) concessions do need to be made from time to time. Personal items and a mess kit are also necessities, and you are responsible for providing your own. We can all find flaws with each others' gear. Remember that we all do the best we can with the resources and money we have, so just do your best and remember that we do this for the education of all we see. Civilians Clothing Checklist If you have questions about the clothing of specific social classes, please email Lucillia Velina. She's happy to answer questions and give advice, especially for people who are just starting out and feel a bit overwhelmed.