Footwear of High ranking Roman soldiers

[Celtic505]

What kind of footwear would soldiers of the Senatorial class have worn in battle? Would they have worn the usual Senatorial calcie or were there other types available? I always see almost boot-like footwear on statues of the emperors with little lion head or gorgon designs on the tops but where those just ceremonial or did they actually wear something like that when in military operations?

[Tarbicus]

I always see almost boot-like footwear on statues of the emperors with little lion head or gorgon designs on the tops but where those just ceremonial or did they actually wear something like that when in military operations?

There was a recent discussion where it was suggested it's not just a lion's head, but an entire lion cub that the boot's upper was made from.

The one who suggested it must be a real sicko....... :wink:

[Martin Moser]

Hi!

What kind of footwear would soldiers of the Senatorial class have worn in battle?

This is like asking "what helmet would a roman soldier have worn in battle?", I'm afraid - you will have to specify what time you are thinking of. Like all equipment, shoes also changed. The only thing to go by I'd guess are depictions like Trajan's column etc., where you will have to find out if and where there are possible senatorial class officers and see what shoes they wear. If you do so, please let us know what you find!

Would certainly be an interesting project, wish I had the leisure to do it ...

[jc02005]

I heard about that they all wear footwear that is made from animal skin is that true

[jvrjenivs]

I heard about that they all wear footwear that is made from animal skin is that true

What do you exactly mean by animal skin. Of course leather is made of animal skin, so then you're right. But if you mean an animal skin untanned, I don't think so. At least I don't know any example (sculptural or archeological) of any roman officer waering Animal skin footwaer.

[jc02005]

I mean leather

[Lucius Poblius]

I don't want to drag this thread off topic, but I caught 5 minutes of a program the other night I think it was called Ray Mears survival which was very interesting.

Basically he was talking to an old Russian man who showed him how to make shoes out of tree bark. He said the technique was thousands of years old.

I was just wondering if there was any evidence of the Romans doing this? It seems a very good, cheap alternative to leather. I guess there's not likely to be any archaeological evidence but maybe something written...?

[Martin Moser]

I heard about that they all wear footwear that is made from animal skin is that true

I mean leather

No. They lied or tried to fool you. Some shoes were made of wood, cork or plant (palm e.g.) fibres, partially at least.

[Martin Moser]

Basically he was talking to an old Russian man who showed him how to make shoes out of tree bark. He said the technique was thousands of years old.
I was just wondering if there was any evidence of the Romans doing this? It seems a very good, cheap alternative to leather. I guess there's not likely to be any archaeological evidence but maybe something written...?

The only thing I actively know about that goes in that direction are the finds from Achmim Panopolis in Egypt (finds are dated to early 2nd to ca. 8th cent. AD), sandals made of palm fibres were found there.

[Celtic505]

I'm sorry, I'm referring to the early principate period.

[Mark Headlee]

Martin,

Sorry if this does not follow this topic, but I figured if anyone would know it would be you..

Do you know of any reference to a "winter" style of shoe or boot as worn by the Romans in, say the 1st Century? I find it hard to believe that calegi were worn year round, especially in cold climates such as Gaul and Britain.

[Graham Sumner]

Hello Mark

I am not sure when you do your displays in the States Mark, but British Roman re-enactors have been doing displays in caligae for over thirty five years in all weathers, all year round. I have not heard of any cases of re-enactor frostbite!

More seriously, at Vindolanda they have not found any classic military caligae the preferred type appears to have been the enclosed boot called a 'fell' type nowadays. However this is not a case of the 'soft' Romans being defeated by the British weather, as Vindolanda also reveals many other types of leather openwork boot.

The Celts themselves often fought barefoot a practice some Highlanders were still doing in the 18th century and even in your part of the world, that was not unheard of during the Civil War.

P.S. There is also some clothing made from Bark recorded on the Vindolanda writing tablets.

Graham.

[Mark Headlee]

Graham,

We Americans tend to be soft with our feet... :wink: Here is Colorado where I live 6-12 inches of snow in the winter is common. Last winter we had a storm here on the plains that dumped 42" of snow with drifts of over 15'!

I also tried the "barefoot" with my US Civil War Confederate impression. I got almost half a mile down the road when I stepped on a piece of glass and cut my foot really bad. Needless to say that was the end of that experiment.

It was more of a "just wondering" type of question really. I know that the "ice man" found in the Alps a few years back was wearing a type of hide footwear (along with a grass cape and other really interesting climate adaptive gear), so I wondered if the Romans had a similar style, though many, many years after the death of the ice man?

[Graham Sumner]

Here is Colorado where I live 6-12 inches of snow in the winter is common. Last winter we had a storm here on the plains that dumped 42" of snow with drifts of over 15'!

I doubt whether the Romans would campaign in weather like that!!!

I also tried the "barefoot" with my US Civil War Confederate impression. I got almost half a mile down the road when I stepped on a piece of glass and cut my foot really bad. Needless to say that was the end of that experiment.

Ouch!!!

It was more of a "just wondering" type of question really. I know that the "ice man" found in the Alps a few years back was wearing a type of hide footwear (along with a grass cape and other really interesting climate adaptive gear), so I wondered if the Romans had a similar style, though many, many years after the death of the ice man?
_________________

The Romans generally seem to have worn more layers of things, like more cloaks and tunics. The obvious footwear would be the socks or leg bindings. Sometimes it is better to go without socks such as when you get your feet wet because they dry off quicker without the socks.

Graham.