What Were Ancient Greek Theatre Costumes Made Of?

Greek Theatre|Theater

Ancient Greek theatre costumes were a reflection of the society in which they were created. They were simple yet colorful, featuring garments that ranged from everyday clothing to more elaborate pieces.

The costumes worn by actors in Ancient Greek theatre were usually made from fabric, such as wool and linen. Men typically wore a tunic, which was a long garment with short sleeves and a belt at the waist.

Women wore a chiton, which was similar to the tunic but it was shorter and had wider sleeves. Both men and women would also wear cloaks or mantles over their tunics or chitons. These garments would be made of wool or linen and could be brightly colored or decorated with intricate patterns.

In addition to these basic garments, Ancient Greek actors would also wear a variety of accessories to complete their costumes. Men often wore sandals, belts, hats, headdresses, jewelry, and masks.

Women would often accessorize with sandals, scarves, jewelry and mantles. They also had the option of wearing wigs if they wanted to change their appearance.

The materials used for Ancient Greek theatre costumes would depend on the play being performed. For more formal plays like tragedies or comedies, actors might have more elaborate costumes made of silk or finely woven fabrics such as linen or wool. For less formal plays such as satyr plays or mimes, they may have chosen simpler materials such as cotton.

Conclusion
Ancient Greek theatre costumes were made from various fabrics including wool and linen for the main garments such as tunics and chitons and then accessorized with sandals, hats, jewelry and masks for both men and women depending on what play was being performed. The type of fabric used for the costume depended on how formal the play was with silk being used for more formal plays while cotton may have been chosen for less formal plays.