The ( gr, ταβλίον) was a rectangular or trapezoidal panel embroidered on the ceremonial mantle ('' chlamys'') of courtiers during the

Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...

. __NOTOC__ The were chosen to contrast with the mantle colour, and sewn pairwise on the front edges of the mantle. They could be further decorated with embroidered designs or images of the emperor. The emperor's mantle originally (in the 4th century) featured sewn almost at the bottom of the mantle, below the knees, but from the 6th century they were moved to the centre of the mantle opening. As the was the chief civilian court dress, the was a part of male court costume, and had to be purchased by the office-holders (for example, a paid 24 gold in the 9th century). The only women allowed to wear a and were the empresses. In the middle Byzantine period, the is much more richly decorated, but is sometimes depicted without . The exact significance of this is unclear, although it has been suggested that it might denote lower court ranks. In art, the is usually depicted with the right half thrown behind the shoulder, so that only the left-hand is visible. Although normally a symbol of civilian dress, military saints are often depicted wearing a with . In the ''

Kletorologion The ''Klētorologion'' of Philotheos ( el, Κλητορολόγιον), is the longest and most important of the Byzantine lists of offices and court precedence ('' Taktika'').. It was published in September 899 during the reign of Emperor Leo VI ...

'' of 899, the term is also used for a box for the emperor's personal garments, carried by his servants during processions.

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* * {{refend Byzantine clothing

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