ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Byzantine dress

Byzantine dress is the clothing that people used to wear in ancient times in the city called Byzantium, which is now Istanbul in Turkey. The city was very important because it was the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which existed for over a thousand years. The Byzantine dress had many layers and was quite different from what we wear today.

The dresses worn by people in the Byzantine Empire were made of luxurious and expensive fabrics such as silk, wool, and linen. Women usually wore long, flowing gowns that had a lot of fabric and were draped around the body. These dresses were often decorated with patterns and embroidery, and they had many layers. Men wore tunics and cloaks, which were also made of high-quality fabrics.

Sometimes, people wore special garments that distinguished them from others. For example, the emperor and empress wore special garments that were decorated with gold and jewels. They also wore a special hat called a crown.

The Byzantine dress was also influenced by religion. Priests and bishops wore special garments when they performed religious ceremonies. They usually wore long robes with a lot of fabric and decorations, and they even had special hats called miters.

In conclusion, the Byzantine dress was a very important part of the culture of the Byzantine Empire. It was very different from what we wear today but was still beautiful and luxurious. The dress was influenced by many things such as religion, social status, and fashion trends.
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