Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/392

 362 A History of Art in Sardinia and Jud.f.a. appearance at a short distance of a low relief. 1 A linen under- garment came to be worn by persons of refined and sumptuous habits ; in the course of time its use became universal. 2 The cloak of the women was distinguished from that of men by its richer colouring" and greater amplitude. 3 All these costly textiles were imported from the neighbouring countries, Chaldsea, Phoe- nicia, and Egypt {Isa. hi. 16-24; Esck. xvi. 10-19). Coloured and broidered vestments are alluded to in Judg. v. 30. A veil covering the head and neck, and a metal mirror carried in the hand, were indispensable items of a lady's dress ; whilst sandals, tied round the ankle by leather straps, were common to both sexes. No bas-relief or statuette of Jewish origin has come down to us to enable us to restore the complete national costume. A pretty fair idea may, however, be formed from that in vogue at the present day among the Druses and Maronites. Were it possible to bring to life a daughter of Israel with her rich dress, profusely ornamented with jewellery, as points and sparkles to the drapery floating around her like a glorified mist, we may be sure that no matter how brilliant or gorgeous the selection of the tints, they w r ould yet harmonize and melt into each other in the effulgent light of Eastern sunshine. 1 2 Sam, i. 24; xiii. 18, 19. We read that "Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children, so he made him a coat of many colours" {Gen, xxxvii. 3). That was tantamount to giving him a woman's dress. 2 Linen in Hebrew sadin ; Greek (tlv&ûv. 3 The modern cloak of the women is narrower and shorter than that of the men. — Editor,