Read and translate the text. Only a few garments survive, from the end of this period, but we know what clothes were worn from wall paintings and from jewelry

Only a few garments survive, from the end of this period, but we know what clothes were worn from wall paintings and from jewelry, shoes, and ornaments unearthed from burials. Clothing was carefully graded according to the rank of the wearer. Pharaohs were believed to be divine and their clothing and that of their queens, families, and grandest courtiers were made from the finest goods sent from all over the Egyptian empire. Leopard skins, ostrich plumes, ivory, and ebony came from Africa; gold, copper, and gemstones from the deserts; and silver from Asia.

In the desert heat, loose clothing was essential. The shape of clothing depended on wrapping and hanging simple lengths of cool linen or cotton around the body. Linen came from flax and was woven on horizontal looms into many qualities. Men wore short, pleated, wrap-over pieces of cloth around the waist (loincloths). The mass of laborers and slaves wore loincloths made of coarse fabric or leather. Many toiled almost naked.

By the New Kingdom (1580 BC) the kalasiris was popular. A pleated, tube-like garment, it was cut to drape over the shoulders into long or short sleeves. Women wore theirs longer, held up with wide straps above or below the breasts. Children usually went naked and had their heads shaved of hair except for a small piece known as the “lock of youth” hanging down on the side.

Pharaohs wore crowns of office, cloth of gold tissue, transparent linen, sandals, and fabulous jewelry. At court important men wore false beards, held on with straps around the ears. Both men and women wore wigs. Women decorated theirs with flowers and feathers. Jeweled collars, anklets, bracelets, and earrings were made of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, and coral formed into sacred patterns.

Read and learn the following words and word combinations from the text.

Garment – предмет одежды;

Divine – божественный;

Plume – перо;

Ivory – слоновая кость;

Ebony – черное дерево;

Gemstone – драгоценный камень;

Loose – свободный;

Linen – полотно;

Flax – лен;

Loom – ткацкий станок;

Pleat – складка, плиссировать;

Waist – талия;

Coarse – грубый;

Leather – кожа;

Tissue – ткань.

Answer the following questions.

1. Why did people decide to wear clothes?

2.What was essential in the desert heat?

3. What did the mass of slaves wear?

4. Why did the clothes become more and more important?

5. What was popular by the New Kingdom?

6. What is the kalasiris?

7. How can you describe the clothes of pharaohs, men and women of the times?

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