*
Once a boy became a man, he put aside his childish clothes, and wore an all-white tunic. A boy became a citizen at age 16 or 17. The year was selected by choosing the date which came closest to March 17. Coming of age, becoming a citizen, was quite a celebration. Boys at about 17 years of age would take part in a ceremony in which they were given the adult toga called Toga Virilis. This was often white and the braid symbolising childhood was missing. After putting on his new toga, the boy's proud father would adjust it. The day ended with a dinner party, given by the father, in honor of the new Roman citizen. We do note images of children wearing what look like togas, but this appaers to have been children of important officials in formal occassions. It was not what they regularly wore. The Altar of Peace is a magificent depiction of the Roman elite in their finest togas--including the boys (figure 1). Boys normally would wear short tnics, but for such a formal occassion are dressed in long tunics like their parents.
Gur, O. Selcuk. Daily Life in Ancient Times (Pub. Kuyucu Matbaacilik Ltd.).
Macdonald, Fiona. Ancient Rome (Pub Miles Kelly, U.K, 2002).
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