There is a slight debate about that. Some think that since Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote the first book in 1912, that "naked" simply means "without clothes" but not necessarily "slongs out". BUT I don't really buy that. This is Burroughs we're talking about; when he wants to he describes things in detail, especially in the world building books. He does not have issues with describing clothing, appearances, or outer worldly things. We're talking about a man who created multiple fantasy cultures within his books, as well as describing what they and do not wear.



Let's take Tarzan for example. That same year Burroughs wrote Tarzan of the Apes. (I know. He created the first Barsoom book and Tarzan the same year!) Burroughs does not have a problem of saying that Tarzan went completely naked through the jungle, and it was only when he learned that other men wore clothing that he decided to "appropriate" clothes himself (killing an African). Before that, he says Tarzan is naked. Now, since Tarzan would have no clue what clothes were until he learned it, he wouldn't he wearing undies. So taking that as bases, we know that Burroughs means naked when he says naked.



Also to further my theory, in At The Earth's Core (1914), Dian the Beautiful is described as topless, wearing only a "thong" (which in those days meant loin cloth). She was a primitive person who lived in an underground world just below us. He describes most of the natives as wearing cave-man like gear. Once again, Burroughs doesn't have an issue saying naked.



Because of that I believe the folks of Barsoom are naked. Burroughs could have said they wore loin clothes, but he didn't. He said they only wear ornaments, harnesses, weapons for the most part. At night, or when they are cold, sometimes they wear silks. The Yellow Men of Barsoom wear furs because they live in the cold, while the Therns wear blonde wigs and sometimes silk robes. I think if Burroughs wanted to say they wore something else, then he would have.



I think the reason there is confusion is both peoples own internal modesty and the art of Burroughs day. Naturally they couldn't paint naked people on their books, and got around the issue with loin clothes or roman-like skirts. Also, using the art to go by can be wrong as people often depict Dejah Thoris as being his large busty woman, when Burrough pretty much says she's small and petite. I personally think that Michael Whelan's art comes the closest to what Burroughs actually imagined. If you have seen it, he re-did the covers to the books in the late 70s through early 80s.