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Linen (/ ˈ l ɪ n ə n /) is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is very strong and absorbent and dries faster than cotton. Because of these properties, linen is comfortable to wear in hot weather and is valued for use in garments. Linen textiles can be made from flax plant fiber, yarn, as well as woven and knitted.
Sindon was an ancient Babylonian textile primarily made from linen. There are varying accounts of the texture and material, with some sources indicating cotton, linen, and silk. Sindon presents a source of confusion in various contexts. Certain scholars have interpreted this term to refer to dyed cotton fabrics.
The earliest known household linens were made from thin yarn spun from flax fibres to make linen cloth. Ancient Egypt, Babylon, and Phoenicia all cultivated flax crops. The earliest surviving fragments of linen cloth have been found in Egyptian tombs and date to 4000 BCE.
Flax was cultivated extensively in ancient Egypt, where the temple walls had paintings of flowering flax, and mummies were embalmed using linen. [13] Egyptian priests wore only linen, as flax was considered a symbol of purity. [14] Phoenicians traded Egyptian linen throughout the Mediterranean and the Romans used it for their sails. [15]
Sample of ancient Egyptian linen from Saqqara, dating to 390-343 BC (Late Period) Modern illustration of a man's tunic in the style popularized in the New Kingdom. In ancient Egypt, linen was a common textile as it helped people to be comfortable in the subtropical heat.
This type of dress by the Ancient Sumerians inspired many other civilizations such as Ancient Greece, Egypt, Assyria, and Rome. For the upper class, these woven fabrics were dyed brilliant colors and decorated to show the status of an individual. Linen was a woven fabric that typically was only made for those with higher class. [41]
Ancient Greek clothing consisted of lengths of wool or linen, generally rectangular and secured at the shoulders with ornamented pins called fibulae and belted with a sash. Typical garments were the peplos , a loose robe worn by women; the chlamys , a cloak worn by men; and the chiton , a tunic worn by both men and women.
The earliest form of pleated linen dates from ancient Egypt and can be seen in a garment known as the Tarkhan dress, which is over 5000 years old and is believed to be one of the oldest dresses in existence. [1] Other examples of pleated linen from ancient history include pleated linen from the tomb of queen Neferu. [2]