A chiton (the ch is pronounced like a k) is a form of tunic that fastens at the shoulder, worn by men and women of ancient Greece and Rome. There are two forms of chiton: the Doric and the later Ionic. According to Herodotus, popular legend was that Athenian women began to wear the chiton as opposed to the peplos after several women stabbed a messenger to death with the bronze pins characteristic of the peplos.
Story by Herodotus in The Histories book 5 chapter 87 about why the Athenians adopted the Ionian dress. Only one Athenian male had survived an attack on Aegina and returned to Athens.
It would seem that he made his way to Athens and told of the mishap. When the wives of the men who had gone to attack Aegina heard this, they were very angry that he alone should be safe. They gathered round him and stabbed him with the brooch-pins of their garments, each asking him where her husband was. This is how this man met his end, and the Athenians found the action of their women to be more dreadful than their own misfortune. They could find, it is said, no other way to punish the women than changing their dress to the Ionian fashion. Until then the Athenian women had worn Dorian dress, which is very like the Corinthian. It was changed, therefore, to the linen tunic, so that they might have no brooch-pins to use.
Andromeda of Sparta give us some great examples of ancient Greek brooch pins, measuring from 3.3 inches to 8.7 inches in length!
I am here for the ancient Greek Hatpin Discourse.
^ The Mourning Athena relief with Athena wearing a peplos, c. 460 BC. As you can see, it is pinned at both shoulders.
^ Ionic chiton. The Ionic chiton could also be made from linen or wool and was draped without the fold and held in place from neck to wrist by several small pins or buttons. After the pin-stabbing incident, the women's chitons were held with buttons, often styled with the face of the Gorgon (a protective amulet).
