What is "perizoma"

n. A loincloth worn by men and women in ancient Greece.

Perizoma is a genus in the geometer moth family (Geometridae). It is the type genus of tribe Perizomini in subfamily Larentiinae. The tribe is considered monotypic by those who include the genera Gagitodes, Martania and Mesotype in Perizoma. Some other less closely related species formerly placed here are now elsewhere in the Larentiinae, e.g. in Entephria of the tribe Larentiini.

Either way, there are more than 150 species of Perizoma currently known, with a generally Northern Hemisphere distribution (e.g. 14 occurring in Europe), and new ones still being described occasionally. Many of them are called rivulets ("the" rivulet is P. affinitata specifically), while others are known as "carpets", a common name for Larentiinae in general.

One of its junior synonyms is Emmelesia, proposed by J.F. Stephens no less than three times – once validly in 1829, and within the next two years twice more invalidly. Another invalid name of Perizoma – Opisogonia, chosen by G.A. Herrich-Schäffer in 1856 – had already been used by the same author the year before for a different geometer moth genus.

Perizoma (from Greek peri – around, about and zone – belt) is a type of loincloth that originated with the Minoan civilization in Crete. Surviving depictions show it being worn by male and female acrobats (for example, in the Bull-Leaping Fresco).

A perizoma was possibly worn by Jesus during his crucifixion. It is a standard feature of the crucifixion in the arts. However, Roman custom was to crucify victims naked, and there is no evidence to suggest that Jesus was an exception. Perizoma was likely added by later artists to preserve modesty (see fig leaf) and first appeared in the 8th century. Aachen Cathedral claims to have the actual relic of the perizoma, preserved inside the Marienschrein reliquary.