subligaculum

But to add to the diversion, Cicero if I translate him correctly says that no actor would appear on stage without his 'subligaculum'.

What did the Romans wear under their togas? 2006

Wasn't it a 'subligaculum', which my old school pocket dictionary defines as a 'loin cloth'?

What did the Romans wear under their togas? 2006

After paying the small fee something akin to the price of renting a DVD today, you enter the apodyterium, the dressing room, where you disrobe, put your clothes on a shelf or in a small cubbylike locker, and head off to the palestra, gymnasium, wearing a light subligaculum, undergarment—only the silly Greeks exercise naked.

Flushed W. Hodding Carter 2006

After paying the small fee something akin to the price of renting a DVD today, you enter the apodyterium, the dressing room, where you disrobe, put your clothes on a shelf or in a small cubbylike locker, and head off to the palestra, gymnasium, wearing a light subligaculum, undergarment—only the silly Greeks exercise naked.

Flushed W. Hodding Carter 2006

Yes, but Cicero seems to imply that actors without a subligaculum would be open to the mischance of accidental indecent exposure and that is why they wear it.

What did the Romans wear under their togas? 2006

Respectable women, it seems, also always wore some sort of _subligaculum_, even sometimes when bathing.

Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1 The Evolution of Modesty; The Phenomena of Sexual Periodicity; Auto-Erotism Havelock Ellis 1899

In Rome, according to ancient custom, actors were compelled to wear drawers (_subligaculum_) on the stage, in order to safeguard the modesty of Roman matrons.

Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 1 The Evolution of Modesty; The Phenomena of Sexual Periodicity; Auto-Erotism Havelock Ellis 1899

The story is that Thekla, refusing to yield to the passion of the high priest of Syria, was put, naked but for a girdle (_subligaculum_) into the arena on the back of a lioness, which licked her feet and fought for her against the other beasts, dying in her defense.

Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 6 Sex in Relation to Society Havelock Ellis 1899

I agree that our situation is too close to the late Roman republic than is comfortable, but Barack Hussein Obama is not fit to carry Gaius Julius Caesar's subligaculum.

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