Brewer's: Flowered Robes

In ancient Greece to say “a woman wore flowered robes” was to imply that she was a fille publique. Solon made it a law that virtuous women should appear in simple and modest apparel, but that harlots should always dress in flashy or flowered robes.

“As fugitive slaves are known by their stigmata, so flowered garments indicate one of the demi-monde [moichalida]” - Clemens of Alexandria.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Related Content