10-31-2006, 03:42 PM
Hello Paul
The illustration from Pompeii and my reconstruction are in vol 1. The painted reconstruction was based on a semi circular design that I have had reconstructed. It is large enough to cover someone wearing armour. Sadly the Paenula hood will always now attract Lotr or Star Wars comments
Many re-enactors cloaks are not as big as the original examples which survive, or the measurements given in a papyrus document from Egypt for a military rectangular cloak of Sagum type which was also the same dimensions as the hospital blankets ordered for the Roman army. However the length of the examples of Paenula cloaks shown in sculptures varies so different sizes are possible.
As Jim pointed out you can flip the sides up of the Paenula cloak to show off the side arms. The weight should hold the sides in place on the shoulders. The reconstructed design of my cloak was copied on one by Hero Granger-Taylor which was in turn based on a late Roman Paenula. An earlier example exists from Bellana which lacks the later additional flap at the throat but it too was semi circular.
It is not really clear how the Paenula was fastened at the front. The Camomile and Chatsworth sculptures would appear to show button or toggle type fasteners while other sculptures seem to show a stitched front or are simply plain. I do not know what means of fastening was used on the surviving examples.
A white Paenula is mentioned in the Vindolanda tablets as well as undercloaks, Subpaenulas.
Graham.
The illustration from Pompeii and my reconstruction are in vol 1. The painted reconstruction was based on a semi circular design that I have had reconstructed. It is large enough to cover someone wearing armour. Sadly the Paenula hood will always now attract Lotr or Star Wars comments
Many re-enactors cloaks are not as big as the original examples which survive, or the measurements given in a papyrus document from Egypt for a military rectangular cloak of Sagum type which was also the same dimensions as the hospital blankets ordered for the Roman army. However the length of the examples of Paenula cloaks shown in sculptures varies so different sizes are possible.
As Jim pointed out you can flip the sides up of the Paenula cloak to show off the side arms. The weight should hold the sides in place on the shoulders. The reconstructed design of my cloak was copied on one by Hero Granger-Taylor which was in turn based on a late Roman Paenula. An earlier example exists from Bellana which lacks the later additional flap at the throat but it too was semi circular.
It is not really clear how the Paenula was fastened at the front. The Camomile and Chatsworth sculptures would appear to show button or toggle type fasteners while other sculptures seem to show a stitched front or are simply plain. I do not know what means of fastening was used on the surviving examples.
A white Paenula is mentioned in the Vindolanda tablets as well as undercloaks, Subpaenulas.
Graham.
"Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream" Edgar Allan Poe.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
