DID CAESAR WEAR KILTS?

Evening Star, Issue 19522, 1 April 1927, Page 6

DID CAESAR WEAR KILTS?

‘ . * Suggestions are sometimes put forward regarding the origin of the kill (says a writer in the ‘Weekly Scotsman’). I observed recently that the credit of the introduction or our cient garb was attributed to an Englishman! This was ingenious if nothing else. The dross was in use in Scotland before there was an English nation. It may be that we owe the dress to the Romans! This may seem far-fetched; but see a Roman soldier’s dress, and wo have a strong resemblance to the kilt of to-day. Although Rome did not conquer Scotland, the people mav have imitated the dress of their neighbors. The Romans occupied Britain for nearly 400 years. We know that there was intercourse between the unconauered Caledonians and the conquerors of Britain. They traded with each oilier. Roman goods were bought or bartered by the people over the frontier. In all prooability the Roman garb became popular in Cale-donia-just as, for instance, French fashions are popular hero to-day. Following the first invasion by Julius Caesar things British—articles of clothing and ornaments—became popular in Rome, particularly with the Roman women. There is an incessant human desire' for novelty. With the advent of the Anglo-Saxons into England Roman civilisation was swept away. The early settlers of this race were barbarians. They did not believe in half measures. Thus the Roman garb would disappear. Scotland was not influenced hv either of the two conquests of England—the Anglo-Saxon and the Norman. And this applies particularly to Scotland north of the Firths. The picture of a Roman legionary strongly resembles a Highlander in the kilt, even to the arms hare to above th e elbows. Can it be shown that the similarity had not its origin in the coming of the Romans—the difference of detail being accounted for by time and circumstances?