Mesopotamian Civilization:
Fashion & Textiles
Exploring the clothing, materials, and styles of ancient
Mesopotamia
Introduction to Mesopotamian Civilization
Mesopotamian civilization flourished in modern-day
Iraq, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Sumerians (3000–2000 BCE) Babylonians
(1894–1595 BCE)
Assyrians (1380–612 BCE) Persians (550–330
Mesopotamian Textiles
Textiles were crucial in Mesopotamian life, used for
trade and as gifts for kings and queens.
● Key Points:
○ Wool and goat hair were spun into felt or woven
into cloth.
○ Linen, a luxurious fabric, was worn by the
wealthy and priests.
○ Cotton and silk were introduced later (around
700 BCE).
Textile Uses
Mesopotamian textiles were used for clothing and trade.
● Key Points:
○ Wool was the most common fabric.
○ Linen was reserved for the rich and for adorning statues of gods.
○ Dyes, embroidery, and beads were used to beautify garments.
Sumerian Men’s Costume
•The earliest evidence of civilization in Mesopotamia is identified as Sumerian
● Text: Early Sumerian men wore simple, functional clothing.
● Key Points:
○ Small loincloths or waist strings.
○ Later, men wore wraparound skirts made from sheepskin or wool, with decorative tufts.
○ Named kaunakes by the Greeks, this tufted fabric is shown in all the sculptures and mosaics of the period
○ Skirts were held up by padded belts.
Sumerian Women’s Costume
Sumerian women’s clothing was more modest and simpler than men’s.
● Key Points:
○ Women typically wore shawls wrapped around their bodies.
○ Shawls were decorated with simple border patterns or fringes.
○ By the end of Sumerian rule around 2000 B.C.E. both men and
○ women wore skirts and shawls.
Military Costume
Soldiers and warriors wore protective clothing.
● Key Points:
○ Soldiers wore short kilts, sometimes made of leather or felt.
○ Cloaks made from leather or heavy felt, studded with metal discs.
○ Helmets were made of leather or metal.
● Image: Illustration of a Sumerian warrior in military gear.
Accessories in Mesopotamia
Accessories added beauty and status to Mesopotamian attire.
● Key Points:
○ Jewelry included bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and headdresses.
○ Gold and silver jewelry was common; carnelian (a reddish
gemstone) was popular.
○ Kings and nobles wore elaborate headdresses.
○ A wool, felt, or leather cap, shaped like a fez (a flat-topped cone
with a black tassel on top), was worn.
○ The royal headdress looked like a pleated crown or a mitre (a type
of hat) and had extra pieces of fabric hanging down at the back.
Footwear in Mesopotamia
Footwear was simple but functional.
● Key Points:
○ Both men and women wore sandals or boots made from
fabric or soft leather.
Hair and Grooming
● Text: Hair and grooming were important for both men and women.
● Key Points:
○ Both men and women wore large wigs and carefully curled hair.
○ Men grew long, curled beards.
○ Perfumes, oils, and black dye were used to enhance the hair.
Recap: Key Takeaways
: Mesopotamian clothing and textiles were
not only practical but also a symbol of
social status and culture.
● Key Points:
○ Wool, linen, and cotton were common
materials.
○ Clothing styles varied based on social
class, with the wealthy wearing more
luxurious fabrics.
○ Accessories like jewelry and
headpieces were important for both
everyday wear and ceremonial
purposes.
