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stola

Apparel
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A long, sleeveless or short-sleeved tunic worn by Roman women over an undergarment, essentially the female equivalent of the toga, indicating a married woman's status and modesty.

Detailed Definition
The stola was the distinctive garment of the Roman matron, a long dress reaching to the feet, often gathered with a waistband and held at the shoulders by straps or brooches. In Roman poetry, the stola is a sign of a woman's marital respectability, and its absence might indicate a courtesan or a lower status. Poets like Ovid and Propertius describe the stola in love poetry, sometimes criticizing its modesty or playfully imagining its removal. Its fabric—fine wool or linen—and its color (often white or a soft hue) are noted. The stola also appears in historical poems set in Roman times, anchoring the scene in its cultural context. Its layering over a tunica interior allows for images of shedding and revelation, making it a garment of both protection and vulnerability.
Example
Example in poetry:
"Her stola of white wool was the garment of a Roman matron"; "The stola's folds fell like the columns of the forum"; "She wore her stola to the temple, a sign of her status"; "The stola, pinned at the shoulders, was a garment of dignity"; "He saw her stola and knew she was a woman of respect"; "She removed her stola and became a woman, not a wife"
Additional Notes
The stola was the distinctive garment of the Roman matron, a long dress reaching to the feet, often gathered with a waistband and held at the shoulders by straps or brooches. In Roman poetry, the stola is a sign of a woman's marital respectability, and its absence might indicate a courtesan or a lower status. Poets like Ovid and Propertius describe the stola in love poetry, sometimes criticizing its modesty or playfully imagining its removal. Its fabric—fine wool or linen—and its color (often white or a soft hue) are noted. The stola also appears in historical poems set in Roman times, anchoring the scene in its cultural context. Its layering over a tunica interior allows for images of shedding and revelation. Related terms include palla, tunica, and gown. Students should note the stola's role in signaling Roman female virtue and marital status.
Also Known As
matron's robe Roman gown dignified overdress
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