Chiton (costume)

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For an article about the mollusk, see chiton.

Greek clothes, from left to right:
1) Man wearing a chiton and a pilos hat. 2) Man wearing an exomis. 3) Man wearing a himation. 4) Man wearing a himation over a chiton. 5) Man wearing a chlamys and a helmet.

A chiton was a piece of clothing in the Ancient Greek world. It was made of a two sheets of light drapery and worn directly over the body. A belt, usually under the breast ("high-girded") or around the waist ("low-girded") helped contain it. Double-girded were also fashionable. The chiton was often worn in combination with the heavier himation, which had the role of a cloak.

A Danaid, wearing a low-girded sleeved chiton.

It was the outfit of Aphrodite because it was considered very feminine and sexy. Men also wore it. Dionysus is often drawn wearing it. Poets and male artists also wore it.

When used alone (without a himation), the chiton was called monochiton.

A large belt, called the zoster could be worn over the chiton.

The chiton was also worn by the Romans.

[edit] Name

The Greek word "khitōn" can be traced to the Central Semitic word "*kittan", which is from the Akkadian words "kitû" or "kita’um", meaning flax or linen, and originally the Sumerian word "gada" or "gida".^[1]