The sagum was a garment of note generally worn by members of the Roman military during both the

Republic A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...

and early Empire. Regarded symbolically as one of war by the same tradition which embraced the toga as a garment of peace,{{cite encyclopedia , editor = Henry Nettleship and

J. E. Sandys Sir John Edwin Sandys ( "Sands"; 19 May 1844 – 6 July 1922) was an English classical scholar. Life Born in Leicester, England on 19 May 1844, Sandys was the 4th son of Rev. Timothy Sandys (1803–1871) and Rebecca Swain (1800–1853). Livin ...

, encyclopedia = Dictionary of Classical Antiquities , title = Sagum , url = http://www.ancientlibrary.com/seyffert/0557.html , accessdate = 2007-02-03 , year = 1894 , url-status = dead , archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070202081018/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/seyffert/0557.html , archivedate = 2007-02-02 it was slightly more practical, consisting of a simple rectangular segment of cloth fastened by a leather or metal clasp and worn on top of the armor. The fabric was unwashed wool, saturated with lanolin (which made it water-resistant); it was traditionally dyed bright red.

Notes

Military history of ancient Rome Roman-era clothing Robes and cloaks