PENULA. — The paenula was among the Romans a dark-colored cloak, perhaps of Celtic origin, closed even at the front and without sleeves, of circular shape with a hole in the middle through which the head was passed; the hands were drawn out from beneath its raised edges.
It was used especially when traveling; in the city during rainy and cold weather with the application of a hood (cucullus). It was made of thick cloth lined with fur (gausapa, paenula gausapina); there were also some made of thin leather. A worn and open paenula was worn by servants over the exomis tunic. Because of its cut and the quality of its fabric, it was little suited to being draped elegantly like the other cloak called lacerna, which was smaller, open at the front, and always with a hood. A cloak of the paenula type (φελόνη) was requested by St. Paul from Timothy (2 Tim. 4:13), which he had left at Troas with Carpus, along with some of his books. In the 4th and 5th centuries a more practical form of paenula became common, shortened and open at the sides to allow movement of the arms. From this, used by bishops and presbyters,