Figure 1.--This sculpture was found at Ephebos? in Turkey. It dates to about ????. Here we are not sure why the boy was sculpted with a cape. We suspect that it was easier than attempting to do the body with more involved clothing. The boy looks to be about 12 years old. He is apparently wearing a tunic under his cloak. Image courtesy of the Fergusson Image Collection.

Italy is of course located in the Mediterranean and the climate is generally warm, especially in the south of the peninsula. There is of course a winter which can be quite cold especially in the north. In additions Romans lived outside of Italy. Thus cold weather clothing was needed. One of the primary garments was the cloak which I believe was worn by men, women, and children. Here I do nor know if there was any stylistic differences for the cloaks worn by men, women, and children. The sculpture seen here is referred to as "The Ephebos Youth". I am not sure, but I think that wasa Roman city in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). The marble statue shows a boy wearing a cape pulled around him. He is wearing sandles. His hair is short. He is thought to be resting after exercising. The statue depicts a boy in a relaxed pose and it has a feeling of being a snapshot photograph of a moment in the education of a child.

Sources

Can, Turham. Istanbul - Gateway to the Orient (Istanbul Publisher Orient Turkish Ltd.).

William Fergusson