Q&A
How long were Roman togas?
• SHORT ANSWER
If the uncomfortable but symbol-laden dress was only a few metres of cloth, a Roman was lucky
• LONG ANSWER
A Roman toga does not exactly scream practicality, since the folds of cloth were so cumbersome that they had to be constantly draped over the arm. What’s more, togas were usually made from wool, which was far from ideal in the hot climate, and they were often at least 3.5 metres long. By the days of the Roman empire, their length was sometimes as much as 6 metres.
For what the toga lost in user-friendliness, it made up for in symbolic power; regarded as the oldest form of Roman dress, the garment was said to have been worn by the city’s founder, Romulus. They also came in a variety of options, from the standard white ones to the purple togas worn by consuls and emperors.