[Illustration: Fig. 1.--Form of the Toga spread out.]
TŎGA (τήβεννος), a gown, the name of the principal outer garment
worn by the Romans, seems to have been received by them from the
Etruscans. The toga was the peculiar distinction of the Romans, who
were thence called _togati_ or _gens togata_. It was originally worn
only in Rome itself, and the use of it was forbidden alike to exiles
and to foreigners. Gradually, however, it went out of common use,
and was supplanted by the pallium and lacerna, or else it was worn
in public under the lacerna. [LACERNA.] But it was still used by
the upper classes, who regarded it as an honourable distinction, in
the courts of justice, by clients when they received the SPORTULA,
and in the theatre or at the games, at least when the emperor was
present. The exact form of the toga, and the manner of wearing it,
have occasioned much dispute; but the following account, for which
the writer is indebted to his friend Mr. George Scharf, jun., will
set these matters in a clearer light than has hitherto been the case.
The complete arrangement of this dress may be seen in many antique
statues, but especially in that of Didius Julianus, in the Louvre,
and a bronze figure of the elder Drusus discovered at Herculaneum.
(See figs. 2, 3.)
[Illustration: Fig. 2.--Statue of Didius Julianus. (From the Louvre.)]
[Illustration: Fig. 3.--Bronze of the elder Drusus. (From
Herculaneum.)]
The letters upon particular parts of the illustrations correspond
with each other, and refer to the same places upon the general form
of the toga given above. The method of adjusting the toga is simply
this: the straight edge (_a b g d_) being kept towards the neck, and
the rounded towards the hand, the first part of the toga hangs in
front over the left shoulder to the ground (_a_, fig. 4), so as to
cover that entire half of the figure viewed in front. The remainder
falling behind is wrapped round the body, being carried _under_
the right arm, and brought upwards, like a belt, across the chest,
covering the left arm and shoulder for a second time. It again falls
behind, and terminates in the point _d_ (fig. 5), somewhat higher
than the front portion (_a_).
[Illustration: Fig. 4. Fig. 5.