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PETERSON’S MAGAZINE.

Vol. XXXVI. THE ANCIENT GREEK COSTUME.

BY CHARLES J. PETERSON.

T may he considered heretical, perhaps, if

= the earlier style of Greek costume, is

g far leea graceful, it will be seen, than the illua-

in this age of hoops, we: tration at the close of our article, which depicts asy a word in favor of as an Athenian lady of the time of Pericles, the different costume. But} culminating pericd of Grocian art, as well in if our modern fashions { millinery, it would seem, as in aculpture and

surpass in magnificence, those of ancient Greece excelled in grace. Aa proof of this we hnve had engraved various illustra- tions of the dresses warn by the Athenian ladies in the days of Pericles and Pisistratus. The costumes are all authentic, having been copied from antique vases.

Tt was by the fowing lines of their draperies, that the women of ancient Greece achieved the heantiful in dregs. The fashionable mantua- makers of Athens did not study how to arrange the most trimmings on a dress, but how te mske

the folda of the fabric fall most picturesquely.

Te waa not the first trial, however, that suc-

eeeded. The preceding engtaving, which re- Vou XXXVI—1

Sacchitecture, Even the next cut, which is @ s N s N

N y y 8

Ary.

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representation of the goddess, Ceres, exhibits an 3 advance on the primitive fashions, The short- gown, if we may call it such, has disappeared, Sand given place to the long and flowing garment, with its embroidered frontage, thot we see in Sthe engraving, This dress, however, was rathor that of priestesses, than of ladies in domestic life, $ The next illustration is that of 4 dancing girl. < The wave and flow of this costume is indescrib- 3 ably beautiful. The ballet performers of modern faiiey with their short skirts, their gymnastic 17