MESOPOTAMIA

Mesopotamia is the name today used to refer to the land and civilisations located between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates from 3000 to 300 B.C.E.. 

Throughout its history, Mesopotamia was occupied by different cultures which are studied together due to the similarities between them.The main five were the Sumerians (3000-2000 B.C.E), Akkadians ( 2350-2218 B.C.E.), Babylonians (1894-1595 B.C.E.), Assyrians (1380-612 B.C.E.) and the Persians (550-330 B.C.E.). 

Considered as the 'Cradle of civilisation', the people who lived within this region are known by their creativeness, and historians point them out as the minds behind some of the most important inventions in History, such as the cuneiform script or the wheel.

                       The Ishtar gate                                                                 The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

FASHION: COSTUMES 

SUMERIANS

The first forms of clothing barely offered any coverage, as men wore small loincloths or waist strings and women covered themselves with a shawl. However, soon fashion changed and both genders started wearing a skirt that was placed high on the torso, reaching just beneath the nipple for men and wrapped around one shoulder for women, which was called kaunake and was decorated with leaf forms. Research hasn't yet found out what they were made of, although feathers or leaves are among the possible options.

As time went by, outfits developed into more complex designs. Basically, the most important pieces of items were the tunics and shawls, which were mostly fabricated with wool, soft cotton or silk. Linen clothing seems to have been only used by those with a higher rank in society.

These garments were decorated with fringes or geometric patterns at the borders.

                        Feathered version of the kaunake             Kaunakes made with leaves and tied with a belt

BABYLONIANS (1894-1595 B.C.E.) AND ASSYRIANS (1380-612 B.C.E.)

Babylonia was divided into two regions: the upper part was Akkad, and the lower one was called Chaldea . Because they were preceded by the Sumerians, the similarities between their costumes are unsurprising. However, during this period the fringed edges became more elaborated and turned into a way of indicating status and wealth. 

Both Babylonians and Assyrians started wearing a tunic called kandys. Its length extended just to the ankles and it was held by a belt or a girdle. In fact, the king's used to have tassels which hanged down from it.

The shawls were cut into a rectangular o semicircular shape and the length of the sleeves was different for men and women.

It is worth pointing out that fabrics were dyed into vibrant colours like blue, purple or red. 

Attires could be complemented with colourful cloaks.

PERSIANS (550- 330 B.C.E.)

Although Persians continued wearing these costumes, they also introduced new pieces of clothing. The most important were some type of loose-fitting pants for both genders and a scarf that covered the chin and the head.

Besides, between this age and the previous one, people started wearing underwear: women used short skirts and men put on loincloths. 

Persian king wearing loose-fitting trousers

FOOTWEAR

During the Assyrian rule men started wearing sandals while women wore slippers with coverings, but it wasn't until the Persian reign that it became a common practice. Leather boots were used by soldiers as well as a type of shoe with a bended tip called kroumir.

HEADWEAR, MAKE UP AND BEAUTY

Initially, Sumerian men shaved their heads whereas women braided their long hair into a bun clipped to the top of their heads. 

Later on, new beauty standards were adopted and citizens decided to grow their hair long. Now, men waved it and women used ribbons and pins in their elaborated hairdos.

Assyrians then introduced a new trend with long curled beards. 

Apart from this, felted hats were used and leather caps similar to a fez were put on. Kings wore a mitre usually decorated with blue and white bands. Persians popularised white hats that resemble the Phrygian cap.

Also, some people had specific hairstyles and headdresses according to their jobs (slaves, priests, doctors, etc).

Last but not least, perfumes and oils were applied to hair, which was dyed in black. Noblemen used to sprinkle their beards and hair with gold dust, and it was common for people to paint their lips as well as applying blue eyeshadow and kohl. 

JEWELLERY

The goldsmiths who lived in Mesopotamia developed skillful techniques in order to create distinctive jewellery items such as earrings, rings, headbands, pendants, chokers and brooches. They were made out of precious metals (gold, silver, copper, electrum) and semiprecious stones (agate, lapislazuli, jasper, carnelian, onyx, etc), although painted clay could sometimes be used. As a curious fact, each gemstone was asssociated with a planet.

The motifs represented were related to nature in the shape of flowers, leaves, grapes, cones and spirals. Mythological themes seem to have been more popular in cylinder seals.