Military costumesMilitary ceremonies are one example of official occasions and are sometimes com-
memorated on victory stele in the Early Dynastic period. Two well-known examples are
the Stela of the Vultures, and the Standard of Ur. Both are commemorating a victory
and on both the military personnel wear distinctive attire. On one side of the Ur Standard
(Figure 19. 5 ), the soldiers are dressed in several types of uniforms presumably indicating
their military rank; the spear holders on the first register and the soldiers standing behind
the chariots are wearing plain skirts with fleeced hems and a fleeced shawl that covers one
shoulder. The charioteers, one of whom is seen on the upper register behind the king’s
chariot, and others on the chariots in the lower register, wear a pointed helmet and their
uniforms are similar to those of the regular soldiers, a plain skirt with fleeced hem and a
fleeced shawl covering one shoulder. On the second register are a row of armed warriors
wearing pointed helmets held by straps under their chins, each wearing a cloak over a
plain skirt ending in a fleeced hem. The cloaks and the helmets were possibly made of
–– A note on Sumerian fashion ––Figure 19.4
Statue of King Enmetena
(Iraq Museum IM 5 )