The Assyrians were famous for their rich and costly apparel. The expression “Assyrian garments” became synonymous with elegant and expensive clothing. Bonomi says: “The robes of the Assyrians were generally ample and flowing, but differed in form from those of the Egyptians and the Persians. They consisted of tunics or robes varying in length, in mantles of diverse shapes, of long-fringed scarfs, and of embroidered girdles. Ornaments were scattered with profusion over these dresses, some of which) appear to have been emblematic of certain dignities or employments” (Nineveh and its Palaces, p. 431).
The figures sculptured on the Assyrian marbles attest to the truthfulness of the description given in the text. Bonomi gives an interesting extract from Mr. Smirk’s review of the Assyrian sculptures, which may serve to illustrate the subject: “The apparel of the Assyrians appears by these sculptures to have been almost always richly fringed, with wide borders ornamented with figures of men, animals, and foliage. The caparison of their horses is most gorgeous; every strap of their head and body-housings is enriched; to the chariot horses is usually seen attached, apparently either to the extremity of the pole or to the trappings of the neck, and to the front of the chariot itself, a long fish-shaped piece of drapery fringed and embroidered. Layard is at a loss to designate this object. Perhaps ‘the precious clothes for chariots,’ alluded to by Ezekiel (see Ezek. 27:2020Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots. (Ezekiel 27:20)) as being obtained by the people of Tire from Dedan, may have reference to this singular piece of horse furniture” (Nineveh and its Palaces, p. 437).