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THE CLOTHED BODY IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
17-19 January 2002

Parthena Karatzoglou
University of St Andrews

Clothing in the Atreid family

This paper intends to indicate the abundant references to clothing and ornaments in connection with the Atreid family, and thus the importance that this motif carries in all the plays concerning this family. Evidence will be also drawn from some vases and artistic representations.

First of all, the colour and the quality of the clothes is an indication of the status of the hero as well as his psychological situation. The references to the colour of the clothes are not without importance. The tapestry set for Agamemnon to walk on is in the colour of blood. The Chorus in the Libation Bearers is dressed in black. Furthermore, the ornaments that somebody wears are proof of his status.

Since dressing reflects the person's personality, the stripping of clothes is an indication of weakness, when the hero becomes a helpless victim, with no personality, no recognition, left at the mercy of the enemy. Pelopia, stripped of the priestess' robes was raped by Thyestes. Agamemnon was killed at bath when nude. Iphigenia's clothes or veil slipped when she was to be sacrificed.

Therefore, the offering of clothes is a sign of protection or recognition or even worship. The hosts offer clothes to their guests. The mortals offer clothes to the gods to honour them. Clothes will be offered to lphigenia by mortal women after her death. Helen knits a peplos for the dead Clytaemnestra.

Nudity reveals all the truth and the person's real intentions and, therefore, the covering with cloth is equal to deception. The tapestry in the Agamemnon aims at entangling Agamemnon more. Orestes hides his sword under his clothes. Nets are also connected to deception.

In the Atreid family very often the clothes function as a deceitful instrument against relatives, which is a sign of perversion. However, in the end of the story, in Eumenides and Iphigenia in Tauris the image of the cloth is restored in its normal role to worship and honour somebody.