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Buddha's robe often resembles the Roman toga with its many heavy folds.True or False?

User Edallme
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Final answer:

The statement about Buddha's robe resembling a Roman toga is true, reflecting Gandhara's unique blend of Greco-Roman and Buddhist influences. The toga was a Roman garment later worn only by men, but certain women, for reasons of shame, also had to wear it.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that Buddha's robe often resembles the Roman toga with its many heavy folds is True. A third-century sculpture of the Buddha with flowing drapery may have been influenced by the Greek toga, indicative of the multiethnic Gandhara region's art. The toga was a uniquely Roman garment symbolizing Roman identity and citizenship, and its heavy, draped folds could visually echo the stylized folds of a Buddha sculpture's robes from the Gandhara period, which was known for the synthesis of Greco-Roman and Buddhist art.

In early Rome, the toga was worn by both men and women, but it became exclusively a male garment over time, with women wearing the stola. However, certain women, such as prostitutes and adulteresses, were forced to wear the toga, contrasting its typical association with morality and the elite among Roman men and showcasing the complex interplay of clothing, gender roles, and social status in ancient Roman society.

User Mostafa Labib
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