Abstract:

Digenis Akritas and Battal Ghazi epics are epics of two neighbour societies: Byzantine and Turkish. They portray heroic deeds of similar period. These epics contain much information about clothes worn by main heroes, theirs friends and enemies. Descriptions of clothes in epic could provide general information about clothing and fashion of certain society, but examination of plain descriptions would not be enough. Peoples world views, manner and attitudes and religious positions are hidden in clothing, kind of textile material and its colours. Anthropology, which defines clothes as a kind of social language, can interpret symbolism of clothing, its functions in epics and also its social meanings. In this paper clothing in both Byzantine and Turkish societies will be generally evaluated; descriptions of each piece of clothes worn in the period described in epics, will be presented in detail. The information about owner of clothes and his/her social status will be added, when found in scenes of epics. When needed for examination, notes about location of detailed information about clothes in epics will be precisely defined. The examples, in which clothes have power to introduce epic hero or heroine in positive or negative way or can stress his or her negative or positive character, will be also presented afterwards. The partial lack of clothes, the nudity and ways of perception and using these elements in epics will be mentioned as well. Furthermore the symbolism of colours, which plays crucial role for understanding clothing culture, will be evaluated in light of culture and religion of that specific society; the concrete examples of colour symbolism used in epics will be shown within. Style of depicting these clothes, symbolism of colours, clothing and fashion will be evaluated and interpreted in light of social, political and religious conditions in these societies.

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