MATERIAL

The material used in the costumes was chiefly linen. In the most ancient types it was of a fairly thick, coarse weave; but in the later examples a fine thin linen, loosely woven so as to appear almost transparent, was used. The linen has often a stiffened appearance, and also gives the idea of having been goffered or pleated.

DATES

The earliest types of costume were the tunics; midway come the robes and skirts, and the draped or shawl type of costume appears the latest. However, the older types of costume did not disappear as the new ones were introduced, but all continued to be worn contemporaneously. The dates of most of the costumes in this volume are given with their description, and have been verified at the British Museum.

MEN AND WOMEN: THE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR DRESS

It can easily be gathered from the illustrations that the types of costume worn by both sexes were very similar. The high waist-line prevails in feminine dress, while the male costume, if girded, was generally confined about the hips.

Egyptian Works of Reference.
Prisse d’Avennes, “L’Art Egyptiens”;
Leeman, “Aegyptiche Monumente”;
Rossellini, “Monumenti Egitto”;		Hottenroth, “Le Costume”;
Racinet, “Le Costume Historique”;
Sir J. G. Wilkinson, “Ancient Egyptians”;

British Museum Handbooks and Reproductions.

These reproductions have lately been augmented and for those who cannotvisit the Museum will be found most useful.

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN COSTUME

[Plate I.]