Anabolla was a cloak-like garment worn by ancient Greeks and Romans. Nonius Marcellus quotes a passage of Varro to show that it was a garment worn by soldiers (vestis militaris), and thus opposed to the toga. Roman women also wore a version of the abolla by at least the Imperial Period.[1]
The abolla was, however, not confined to military occasions, but was also worn in the city.[2] It was especially used by the Stoic and Cynic philosophers at Rome as the pallium philosophicum,[3] just as the Greek philosophers were accustomed to distinguish themselves by a particular dress.[4] Hence, the expression of Juvenal facinus majoris abollae merely signifies, "a crime committed by a very deep philosopher".[5][6][7] It could also be used as a luxury item. Ptolemy of Mauretania wore a purple cloak so luxurious that it is theorized that Caligula had him executed out of jealousy.[8]
The term abolla is actually a Latinization of the Greek ambolla (ἀμβόλλα) or anabole (ἀναβολή), for a loose woolen cloak.[9]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Abolla". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. London: John Murray.
