Toga and Roman Identity

 This book traces the toga's history from its origins in the Etruscan garment known as the tebenna, through its use as an everyday garment in the Republican period to its increasingly exclusive role as a symbol of privilege in the Principate and its decline in use in late antiquity. It aims to shift the scholarly view of the toga from one dominated by its role as a feature of Roman art to one in which it is seen as an everyday object and a highly charged symbol that in its various forms was central to the definition and negotiation of important gender, age and status boundaries, as well as political stances and ideologies. It discusses the toga's significance not just in Rome itself, but also in the provinces, where it reveals ideas about cultural identity, status and the role of the Roman state. The Toga and Roman Identity shows that, by looking in detail at the history of Rome's national garment, we can gain a better understanding of the complexities of Roman identity for different groups in society, as well as what it meant, at any given time, to be 'Roman'.

Review: [Ursula Rothe's] contribution represents not only a significant analysis of the toga but also a valuable historical resource for anyone exploring the history of Roman culture, as well as anyone interested in identity issues in the Classical world as it clearly explains the transfer of ancient dress rituals to today's cultural traditions. * The Journal of Dress History *
A must-read for all those interested in Roman social history. It is readable, written in a clear style, and helpfully illustrated with photographs throughout the text. * Classics for All *
An in-depth and insightful account of a wide range of aspects of Roman social, political and cultural history, seen through the lens of the toga. This subtle and nuanced analysis of the toga reveals its multi-faceted significance not only for men of the elite classes at Rome, but also for women, other levels of society, and in the provinces. -- Glenys Davies, Honorary Fellow in Classical Art and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh, UK
A fascinating delineation of the toga's complex history and meanings, first worn by women and men, later a male garment symbolizing status, public duty, and political power. Not simply a draped garment, but "the dress of an empire.'' -- Joanne B. Eicher, Regents Professor Emerita in Design, Housing, and Apparel, University of Minnesota, USA
This is a book sorely needed by clothing historians ... This is a wonderful up-to-date work on the toga, incorporating lashings of literary, archaeological finds and artistic evidence, and giving a full picture of draping styles well into late antiquity ... It should be on the bookshelf of everyone interested in ancient dress. * The Classical Review *