- Paludamentum
In republican and imperial Rome, the paludamentum was a
cloak orcape fastened at one shoulder, worn by military commanders and (less often) by their troops. As supreme commander of the whole Roman army, Roman emperors were often portrayed wearing it in their statues (eg thePrima Porta Augustus ) and on their coinage, until the 7th century (when the Byzantine emperors switched from the military paludamentum to the civilchlamys on their coins).The paludamentum was generally
crimson ,scarlet , orpurple in colour, [Historical accounts of colors and dyes, and their usage by different military ranks, vary. See: Sekunda, Nick and Angus McBride. (1996.) [http://books.google.com/books?id=Vpf9fI2NU4oC&pg=PA46&dq=paludamentum+scarlet+crimson+purple&sig=pbcl4a1iW8GI-LcOTB9DcOXowtE "Republican Roman Army 200-104 BC"] Osprey Publishing, page 46. Retrieved on2007 -10-06 .] or sometimes white. [(1919.) [http://books.google.com/books?id=7XiMf0xc_WQC&pg=PA220&dq=paludamentum++white&as_brr=1 "The Encyclopedia Americana"] . Encyclopedia Americana Corporation, page 220. Retrieved on2007 -10-06 .] It was fastened at the shoulder with a clasp, called a fibula, whose form and size varied through time. Putting on the paludamentum was a ceremonial act on setting out for war.Fact|date=October 2007Notes
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