Goddess Athena taught the Greeks the art of knitting, while the Moerae (the Fates), incarnations of destiny, spun, measured, and cut the "thread" of their lives. Processing wool and cloth making was primarily women’s duty, who could establish their social status thanks to their master weaving skills. The clothes were made from a single piece of fabric, without cutting and with minimal seams, and it was fastened to the body by wrapping, belts, and brooches (fibulae). The highest appraisal went to those fabrics that were decorated with woven and embroidered motives in different colours, especially purple that was obtained from murex, a sea snail that also lives in the Adriatic
Apart from wool, the Greeks also purchased finished garments from the Adriatic, especially dark woollen coats of Liburnians, famous sailors who founded the town of Osor 3000 years ago on the mythical islands of Apsyrtides from the tale of the Golden Fleece.
Irena Dlaka, BA Art History
