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In festivals and triumphs and when ambassadors are present [the Romans] used to put on many-colored chitons and cloaks, with gold and purple and otherwise costly, and ones scarlet in color in common assemblies, which they called Atrabatic [ones] from their color; for they call black atron;[1] or because they are accustomed to use these with trabeas; trabeas [trabaiai] is the name for costly cloaks.[2]

*)atrabatika/s: e)n tai=s e(ortai=s kai\ toi=s e)piniki/ois kai\ paro/ntwn pre/sbewn e)nedu/onto xitw=nas kai\ xlamu/das poiki/las, a)po\ xrusou= kai\ porfu/ras kai\ a)/llws pws polutelei=s, e)n de\ tai=s koinai=s suno/dois chrampeli/nas to\ xrw=ma, a(\s e)ka/loun *)atrabatika\s a)po\ tou= xrw/matos: to\ ga\r me/lan a)/tron kalou=sin: h)\ o(/ti meta\ trabai/as tau/tais ei)w/qesan xrh=sqai: trabai=ai de\ le/gontai ai( polutelei=s xlamu/des.

Preger, Scriptores originum Constantinopolitanarum 157.17-158.3 = ps.-Codinus, Patria Constantinopoleos 2.14a.
The headword adjective, here in the accusative plural, may -- contrary to the two etymologies here suggested -- be derived from the Atrabates, a people of Gallia Belgica who were renowned for their high-quality woollens. The word occurs frequently in Constantine Porphyrogenitus, de cerimoniis aulae Byzantinae.
[1] That is, the Latin ater, atra, atrum. See also alpha 4391.
[2] cf. tau 884. The trabea was, according to the OLD, a short purple garment of Etruscan origin, worn on certain ritual occasions and as a dress uniform by the equites.

David Whitehead (modified translation; augmented note and keywords; cosmetics) on 27 August 2002@06:39:57.
David Whitehead (expanded primary note; more keywords) on 29 April 2012@04:37:50.
Catharine Roth (cosmetics) on 9 August 2013@00:01:53.
Catharine Roth (coding) on 13 December 2015@22:53:26.

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