Dr Rothe and velcro togas
- Mr S. Dobson
- Mar 3, 2016
- 1 min read
The Baron Thyssen lecturer in Classical Studies at the Open University, Dr Ursula Rothe visited us to give an interactive lecture to all our Classics students on Wednesday 2nd March. The focus was Roman dress and the way it reveals class, age and gender.
She began with an overview of the styles of toga common to the young (toga praetexta, white with a purple border) and the protection it was supposed to give to that youngster in Roman society, before moving on to a male adult Roman citizen's toga (toga virilis, all white unless you were a senator, in which case you got those purple stripes back) and a woman's stola, as well as the ubiquitous tunic that went under other clothes.
The velcro in the title? Much to our entertainment, Ursula made a quick change for our volunteer from childhood to manhood by simply tearing off the purple strips to reveal a plain white toga virilis underneath.
We all really enjoyed Dr Rothe's visit and I had a really useful discussion with her afterwards, considering how Redborne and the Open University might have further links to our mutual benefit. Watch this space!
You can read what Dr Rothe had to say about her visit here.
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