Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894/Dress
X.—Dress.
The dress of a Jew might not be of mixed material, and garments which entailed work to put on might not be worn abroad on the Sabbath. Women consequently might not go out with a gold crown representing Jerusalem—an adornment often mentioned (Sabbath, vi, 1; Edioth, ii, 7; Kelim, x, 2). The small girls wore plaited hair, and splinters in their ears to prepare for earrings. The Jewesses from Arabia wore veils, and a peculiar cloak distinguished those of Media (Sabbath, vi, 6). From the same passage we learn that the Jews used wooden legs and crutches, with various amulets (Sabbath, vi, 8, 9). The women also painted the eyes with Kohl (viii, 3). The sword, bow, shield,[1] sling and lance were forbidden on the Sabbath. Anklets were worn and false hair and false teeth (Sabbath, vi, 4, 5); laces and fillets, necklaces, nose-rings, seal-rings, sandals, mail coats, greaves, and helmets, scent boxes and musk bottles, are noticed in the same passage (Sabbath, vi, 1, 2, 3).
In another tract occur several notices of dress (Kelim, xi, 8, xxiii, 2, xxvi, 1, xxviii, 5) and of arms, such as the helmet, lance, shield, and breastplate, with women's ornaments, the fibula, earrings, rings, nose-ring, chains, gems, pearls, and glass (apparently false jewels). The people of Ascalon wore a peculiar belt, and the Jewish girls wore their hair in nets. Sandals or overshoes for muddy weather, and a peculiar sandal made at Latakia, are noticed, with women's caps and Arab veils. Smelling bottles seem to have been much used (Kethubim, vi, 4) as well as signet-rings, earrings, &c. (Sotah, i, 6; Nedarim, iv, 1). Clothing included sheepskins (Nedarim, vii, 3) and woollen stuff and Galilean linen (Baba Kama, x, 9). Coral (almug) was worn in rings (Kelim, xiii, 6), and amulets are said to have contained either writings or magic roots (Mikvaoth, x, 2). The wearing of amulets was an universal custom, as it still is in the East, and in a great part of Europe, among all nations.
- ↑ The Arab round shield (Kelim, xxiv, 1) was probably of leather, with a solid boss, as still found in Upper Egypt.