Himation

A woman with a peplos (left), and two women with a himation over a chiton (right).

A himation (Ancient Greek: ἱμάτιον) was a type of clothing, a mantle or wrap worn by Ancient Greek men and women from the Archaic through the Hellenistic periods (c. 750–30 BC). It was usually worn over a chiton and/or peplos, but was made of heavier drape and played the role of a cloak or shawl. When the himation was used alone (without a chiton), and served both as a chiton and as a cloak, it was called an achiton. The himation was markedly less voluminous than the Roman toga.

The himation continued into the Byzantine era, especially as "iconographic dress" used in art, worn by Christ, the Virgin Mary, and Biblical figures, although it appears still to have been worn in actuality, especially by older men of relatively low status.