Ancient Greek Mens Clothes | Greek Soldiers costumes

By Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com

Greek Costume Ideas
Grecian Olympic Victor
Soldier Dress - Greek Captains
Greek Patterns Seen in Scrolls
Greek Shields
Greek Helmets

Male everyday dress was very similar as shown in this image of the Greek poet. Beside him is agReek trumpeter.

This page has images of typical Ancient Greek dress for men, and in particular of battle dress uniform.

Fancy Dress-Greek Costume Ideas for Drama, Carnival Floats & Olympic Events

The Greek man shown left is an Olympic victor. In the centre is a priest of Dionysus and to the right a King.

In Ancient Greece, male everyday dress was very similar as shown in this image right of the Greek poet.

Beside him is a trumpeter who would have called men to battle.

For drama productions, carnival floats, re-enactment or fancy dress purposes it is always essential to get the hair and feet as correct as practical.

Greek sandals when worn, were a very simple affair of a piece of leather wrapped around the sole of the foot and thonging was used to lace the leather to get it to stay on the foot.

For men in particular the costume is fairly simple, the exception is the highly ornate Grecian helmet used as a status symbol and for battle dress.

Read more factual details of Greek clothing on the Greek costume history page.

This page is an original 'Greek Battle Dress Costume History' article by Pauline Weston Thomas 2008 © - Copyright www.fashion-era.com

Grecian Olympic Victor

It was not just on the battle field that Greeks won battles, but also at the Olympic games. The Greek man shown left is an Olympic victor. In the centre is a priest of Dionysus, and to the right a King.

The vase shown in the image is a typically important reference source for many of the Greek costume images we have access to today.

The man and women below are rustics who wear a simple peasant dress called the chiton. This simple tunic would also have acted as an under foundation for the leather and metal armour of soldiers.

Soldier Dress - Costume of Greek Captains

Greek Patterns Seen in Scrolls

Helmets and shields, such as these shown in the (Braun and Schneider Munchener Bilderbogen magazine) image above, were an important part of the masculine Grecian style and were worn by soldiers during battle.

Metal and leather was used to shield prominent areas of the body that were most vulnerable to injury. Leg protection called greaves added more skin coverage. Ancient Greek Scroll Patterns

The helmet which almost totally encased the face, could deflect a spear and the movement of the plume tail decoration might distract the attacker visually from a precision aim. The other reason for varieties of plume decoration was so that soldiers could distinguish between friends and foes.

The metal battle dress itself was costly since it had to be crafted by skilled metalworkers. Leather greaves were worn on the legs and some of the decorative Greek scrolling pattern is visible in the image above.

The patterns on the soldier's uniforms are typical Greek patterns and show evidence of scroll work patterns such as these right. Note a similar pattern on the armour bodice and how it is intermixed with trellis and geometric designs.

If you are making costumes or fancy dress, featuring these decorative pattern elements would enhance the 'Greek' effect enormously. A stencil could easily reproduce such patterns and some sewing machines have similar embroidery patterns that could be used to great effect.

Greek Shields

Greek shields used for drama productions appear more realistic when they create the illusion of weight. To achieve this gravitas, either add metal weights the reverse side or better still add heave metal decoration to the front.

Ancient Greek shield, psears and knives used for warfare.

Greek Helmets

This selection of Grecian helmets shows how ornate and how high they were, this had the effect of making the soldiers appear taller and more aggressive. Horsehair crests made the helmet an impressive sight. The height of the helmet would also have helped absorb or deflect the sword blade attack.

Greek male battle dress shares many similarities with Roman battle dress.

Page added 20 October 2008 Ref: P702