Tents, to be linen or not to be linen.

[Orlirva]

On this thread, it was observed that the main quoted direct evidence that Romans used leather tents is a reference to “sub –pellibus”, However it was also observed that while pellibus may mean leather, the closer word for leather, and especially tanned leather, is corium. a better translation for pellibus might be pelt or hide.

This led to a discussion that perhaps the meaning was that legionaries carried a hide ‘blanket’ (think along the line of buffalo robes or a lightweight lambskin rug, rather than dense heavy cowhide) that might be used alone or combined to form field shelters

But It also happens that ‘felt’ is just about the same word: pilleum, pillei, pilleus, and that perhaps pellibus may have meant felt also (a latin expert is needed here)

Paul Elliott observed: “ in Maurice's Strategikon, he does mention tying two cloaks together to use as a tent ... so the idea of using tent fabrics that were not leather was not especially alien to the (Late?) Roman mind”.

Paul also offered this quote about Paul of Tausus: Every Jewish boy learned a trade — his was tent-making or more properly tent-cloth weaving. He was likely a weaver of the course goats-hair cloth known as "Cilicium," a name derived from the province of Cilicia where Tarsus was located. The felt-like cloth was preferred for tents and sails because of its toughness and the way it withstood weather. Like canvas, it was airy enough to allow air to escape in hot weather, yet in the rain the goat's hair swelled up and became waterproof. Bedouin throughout the Middle East still use it for their tents. The manufacture of this material was his means of support during his missionary travels.

And of course the practical utility of felt as a tent material remains proven in daily use even today by Bedouins and other nomads

The conversation ended there, but the question to the Latin guys (and tent experts, and especially my friend Matt who invested in a spectacular leather tent)... are we sure that sub -pellibus means under pelt and not under Felt?. Might a legion have slept under felt tents?