Roman soldier wearing a sagum.
The sagum was a garment of note generally worn by members of the Roman military during both the Republic and early Empire. Regarded symbolically as a garment of war by the same tradition which embraced the toga as a garment of peace,[1] it was slightly more practical in any event, consisting of a simple rectangular segment of cloth fastened by a leather or perhaps metal clasp and worn on top of the armor. The fabric was made of unwashed wool, saturated with lanolin (which made it water-resistant); it was traditionally dyed bright red.
Notes[]
- ↑ Henry Nettleship and J. E. Sandys, ed (1894). "Sagum". Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. http://www.ancientlibrary.com/seyffert/0557.html. Retrieved 2007-02-03.
The original article can be found at Sagum and the edit history here.