What Did Mesopotamian Women Wear?

The first ever civilization to inhabit Mesopotamia around 4000 BC were the Sumerians. Sumerian men and women had long hair. Women would braid their hair. Often they braid their hair in one long braid and then wrap it around their heads. The general Attire of Sumerian women was a long shawl. They wore the shawls in a way that it covered their whole bodies. However, their right arm and shoulder would remain bare. Veils were common in Mesopotamia. According to the Assyrian law, only free, married women could wear veils. It was forbidden for slaves and prostitutes from wearing a veil. This custom is still prevalent in most of the Middle East.

Women wore gowns that covered their shoulders and ankles, necklaces and earrings.