chlamys

For the scallop genus, see Chlamys (bivalve). The beetle genus described as Chlamys is now Neochlamisus.

The chlamys (Ancient Greek: χλαμύς, gen.: χλαμύδος; also known as ἐφαπτίς - ephaptis) was an ancient Greek piece of clothing, namely a cloak. The chlamys was typically worn by Greek soldiers from the 5th century BC to the 3rd century BC. Originally it was wrapped around the waist like a loincloth, but by the end of the 5th century BC it was worn over the elbows. The chlamys was made from a rectangle of woollen material about the size of a blanket, typically bordered. It was usually pinned at the right shoulder. It could be worn over another item of clothing, but was often worn as the sole item of clothing by young soldiers and messengers. The chlamys was typically worn by the army and — wrapped around the arm — could be used as a light "shield" in combat. The chlamys continued into the Byzantine period, when it was often much larger, worn sideways-on with a clasp at the shoulder, and nearly reaching the ground at front and back.

Gallery

Plate of model wearing a chlamys.

Frieze of a man wearing a chlamys (Ai-Khanoum).

Statue of Ptolemy III in the guise of Hermes wearing the chlamys cloak (Ptolemaic Egypt).

Sources

• Sekunda, Nicholas (2000). Greek Hoplite 480 - 323 BC. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1855328674
• Ridgway, S. Brunilde (1990). Hellenistic Sculpture: The Styles of Ca. 331-200 B.C. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299167100

See also

• Clothing in ancient Greece
• Ephestris (ἐφεστρίς)