Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Chiridota

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

CHIRIDO'TA (χειριδωτός, sc. χιτών). Properly a Greek word, and an adjective, but sometimes used substantively by the Romans (Capitolin. Pertinax, 8.); and applied to a tunic with long sleeves reaching down to the hand (χείρ), more especially characteristic of the Asiatic and Celtic races, as seen in the annexed figure (Chiridota/1.1), from the Niobe group, representing the tutor (paedagogus) of the younger children, a class of men usually selected for that duty from the inhabitants of Asia Minor. Amongst the male population of Greece, and of Rome in the earlier times, sleeved tunics were not worn, excepting by people who affected foreign habits, or of luxurious and effeminate characters; hence when mention is made of persons so dressed, there is always an implied sense of reproach concealed under it. (Scipio Afr. ap. Gell. vii. 12. 2. Cic. Cat. ii. 10. Suet. Cal. 52.) But in both countries they were permitted to females, as shown by numerous monuments both of Greek and Roman artists, and in the annexed example (Chiridota/1.2), from a painting at Pompeii; whence the sarcasm of Virgil (Aen. ix. 616.), where the Trojans are called women, and not men, because their tunics had long sleeves.

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  Chiridota/1.1
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  Chiridota/1.2