The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c10.50

v1.c10.50

³¹ It may be remarked *en passant* that, according to Plutarch, instead of Alexander teaching the Asiatics the use of made dresses, that hero himself adopted an Asiatic dress. He first put on a Parthian mode. He thought however, "the habit made too stiff and exotic an appearance, and therefore took not the breeches, or the sweeping train; but adopting something between the Median and Persian mode, contrived vestments more pompous than the former, and more majestic than the latter. At first he used this dress only before the barbarians, or his particular friends within doors; but in time he came to wear it when he appeared in public, and sat for the despatch of business". Langhorne's *Plutarch*, p. 483. Of course this was most probably done with a view to conciliate the conquered people; but it is not very favourable to the theory of Greek dress having been readily adopted by the latter.