"Their aspect is terrifying. The Gauls are tall of body, with rippling muscles, and white of skin, and their hair is blond, and not only naturally so, but they also make it their practice by artificial means to increase the distinguishing color which nature has given it. For they are always washing their hair in lime-water, and they pull it back from the forehead to the top of the head and back to the nape of the neck... since the treatment of their hair makes it so heavy and coarse that it differs in no respect from the mane of horses. Some of them shave the beard, but others let it grow a little; and the nobles shave their cheeks, but they let the moustache grow until it covers the mouth. The clothing they wear is striking - shirts which have been dyed and embroidered in varied colors and breeches, which they call in their tongue bracae; and they wear striped coats, fastened by a buckle on the shoulder heavy for winter wear and light for summer, in which are set checks, close together and of varied hues."
— Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, V, 28-30


"Among the Gauls the women are nearly as tall as the men, whom they rival in courage".
— First century BC Greek historian and commentator Diodorus SiculusArtwork and Text by Jen Delyth ©2003

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