What Did They Wear? asks a fundamental question about how ancient peoples dressed and considers the cultural and personal language of self-presentation. This exhibition explores what was worn (both visible and fragrant) by people in the past and how various apparel–garments, clothing, footwear, jewelry, and accessories–were used by ancient cultures around the Mediterranean to represent ethnicity, signify social standing, identify deities, and equip an individual for special occasions and specific roles. Featured artifacts are drawn from the collections of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art illustrating the fashion, styles and tastes of ancient Mediterranean cultures, including Egyptian, Greek and Roman spanning over one thousand years. Displays include a wide array of objects ranging from examples of burial attire for Egyptian mummies to vivid depictions of clothing on Greek painted ceramics, Cypriot sculpture, and Roman coins. Then, as now, appearance mattered!

This exhibition is curated by Professor James Higginbotham, Associate Professor of Classics on the Henry Johnson Professorship Fund and Associate Curator for the Ancient Collection. It is organized with support from the Shapell Family Art Fund.