Dressed for success

“The choice of clothing for Irene on this coin is unmistakably Byzantine”, explained Theophylactus. “She is wearing the loros, a typical attribute of imperial regalia which consists of a thick mantel studded with jewelry. This loros would have been an attribute introduced by the consuls in the Roman Republic, and it developed into the dress she is wearing as we see it.

Under this loros she would have undoubtedly worn a long silk ceremonial dress called the divetesion, which is not depicted on this specific coin.Interestingly enough however is the ongoing debate of how typical this imperial way of dressing must have been. Some scholars have argued that this was no ordinary way of dress and only worn on special occasions, as is attested in contemporary texts. There is of course no way to know for sure, and Irene might as well have argued that posing for her portret on a golden coin would count as a very special occasion. We would certainly like to say it would be. On her head we can see the piece of headwear called the stemma, which was a semi circular pointed crown (or diadem).”Ball, J.L., Byzantine Dress: Representations of Secular Dress in Eight- to Twelfth-Century Painting (New York 2015) 11 “Another very typical aspect of Byzantine imperial dress as shown on the coin would be the braids that Irene can be seen wearing”, continued Theophylactos. “These braids were called prependulia and were another typical aspect of the dress code of Byzantine emperors and empresses.” “Looking on from what she is wearing she also seems to be holding something in her hands…”