Spodky - málo známá součást mužského oděvu českého středověku

The objective of this study is to give a detailed overview of medieval clothing for the male legs, and trace views on the subject as they developed in Czech science over the past hundred years. After a summarizing introduction the study explores the subject, starting with the analysis of Czech translations of the medieval Bible. Translators had to cope with words for all kinds of clothing components, including men's lower garments. They soon abandoned the literary translation of nabedrnie ("loin-covering") in favour of the domestic hacie. Verbs describing the process of getting dressed were no less important than the nouns for the parts of clothing. Some of the verbs draw attention to Czech circumstances, starkly different from the biblical original. The lower garment had to be hitched up or tucked under a belt, which evokes a loose, folded garment. Its existence is also confirmed by a number of recent iconographic sources. Details in pictures show that they were the same types of lower garment as that known from western Europe. The study concludes with the analysis of the way in which this clothing was worn, its attachment to the waist, and any fastening or wrapping around the legs. The analysis is the point of departure for further observations regarding their cut or rather, arrangement, on the male body.