Gladiator subligaculum (loincloth)

Madoc


Sources:
Gladiators - Micheal Grant - Barnes and Noble
Gladiatoren in Ephesos - Museum Ephesos
Gladiators and Caesars - ed. Kohne and Wewigleben - British Museum Press
Junkelmann, Dr Marcus, Das Spiel mit dem Todt – Roms Gladitoren im Experiment, Philip Von Zabern, 2000

We consider the gladiators as presented by Marcus Junkelmann to be the most accurate representations available and they are shown in the "Gladiators and Caesars" book above or in his own work on the subject. Some images are here http://www.clemens-fritz.de/gladiator.htm.

This article is not exhaustive, it is purely meant as a rough guide to what appear to be different types of the loincloth worn by gladiators.


  1. The "skirt type" (right) which appears to run from very high on the stomach to the knees. It likely to be a simple wraparound strip of cloth that is held by the ubiquitous belt. Excess cloth over the top of the belt could be folded down. Given our modern need to cover our private parts (or modern underwear) , then it's advisable that you wear a simple breech clout underneath.
    That would make the pattern a rather larger "T" shape, which will mean a two part pattern (the skirt and the breechcloth) as we ararely get cloth wide enough to handle both, which is totally usable if a little hard to get on. We advise sewing at least one end of the breech clout to the skirt.








    A breechcloth is a simple length of cloth that passes between the legs








    The skirt is wrapped around and the ends of the breechcloth are left hanging free. the whole affair can now be belted.







  2. The briefer loincloth, using a somewhat triangular type pattern that can be made in a single piece. Someone has already beaten us to this design and you can view it here on their website. I downloaded the image however (in case their site went offline)










    Some loincloths may show fringing or other decoration. Do not make this from modern curtain edging as it looks like exactly what it is.
    The chances are that the original items were fine wool (like we find used in period tunics) and the fringing is simply frayed edging left on after the weaving process.


    This variant of the loincloth is shown as larger, smaller and either pointed at the front or curved.