Winter wear

[Tita Iuventia Martia]

Salvete fraters,
I have read that Romans (also soldiers) used winterwear: tunics with long sleeves (made from wool), a long trousers (also made from wool) and different sorts of cloaks (sagum, paenula etc.), closed shoes (Calcei?) and socks. I am quite sure that soldiers could wear also a cap (from wool) and gloves, but it is only my personal supposition - I have no evidence for wearing gloves and caps in Roman army. I know that Romans used, forinstance The Panonian hat and also hats from felt, so Is there somebody, who can help with winter wear?

Roman soldiers have been of service in sunny and hot Africa as well as in quite cold and rainy northern parts of empire. So, I think that also clothing was diferent as well as weather. I remember the letter from the soldier (I do not know his name), which asked his parents for the other pair of socks. He was really cold...

Thank you for your answers and regards

[Graham Sumner]

Hello Radka

I have put all the information I could find on hats, gloves, trousers and cloaks etc... into a new book 'Roman Military Dress' which should be published in a couple of months. Keep a look out on this website or at Amazon UK for more details.

Graham.

[Matthew Amt]

And until Graham's new book comes out (don't think we're waiting *patiently*!), try this:

http://www.larp.com/legioxx/coldcloth.html

There have also been a couple other discussions on cold-weather clothing. Try a search, or just browse back through older posts.

The actual references to cold-weather clothing are probably pretty rare, especially since most campaigning was not done in the winter. But it is pretty clear that soldiers were not always dressed in the latest fashion from downtown Rome, from things like the description of Vitellius' troops arriving in Rome in the Year of Four Emperors--the locals didn't even recognize them as Romans! So they'd probably picked up quite a bit of barbaric clothing out there on the frontier.

Vale,

Matthew

[Nemonius Agricola]

Here is me standing in the snow in about 28 degree weather. I was wearing a long sleeve tunic made of wool, one regular tunic of heavy linen, wool braccae, undones on my feet and a pileus on my head. I was actually sweating when I was walking around the the snow I was that warm.

[Renius]

I'm looking forward to your book Graham. I hate being too cold, bring on the correct and warm legionary clothes.

[Tita Iuventia Martia]

Thank you all for your answers :-) -) )
I am going to bring together my winter set, so this book will be great for me.

I have one book about military clothing (Roman military clothing 1), but I am looking forward to new information and also to new sources about this theme. I also try to search and browse RAT.

Mathew: Your web pages are really great! I have read them already many times and I allways found a lot of really important and interesting informations about Romans, army, equipment etc.

valete and regards

[Salvianus]

Here is me standing in the snow in about 28 degree weather.

Looking good It really is amazing how the same designs can be cool or very warm when made of heavier wool.

Radka, here's a picture of Victor and myself mucking about in the snow as Late Romans, in each cloak type: my Pannonian cap is made of my cloak wool to emulate a figure on the Piazza Armerina mosaic, though they were described as being made of sheepskin, which is very warm. Thick new wool sheds rain well and there seems to have been specialist water resistant cloth, gausapa.

You can see the rectangular leg wraps which act as modern gaitors in protecting the shins and keeping snow & rain out of the boots. Scarves are useful in all periods.

[Salvianus]

I forgot to say gloves are not attested specifically for soldiers that I recall, but were certainly used in the period for protection and for cold weather (digitabula).

I hope that is helpful.

[Crispvs]

I too, am looking forward to Graham's new book. For the time being though, you could try looking here as well:

http://www.romanarmy.net/coldweather.htm

Crispvs

[Nemonius Agricola]

Salvianus

How did you make your leg wraps. Do you have a pattern?

[Salvianus]

salve Tiberius Nemomius

They are a simple rectangle, in mine height = ankle to knee (my next will be more generous by an inch or two, as I find they ride up with wear :lol: exposing the ankle), width = 3 or 4+ times around the largest part of the calf, with 1 long tie from a top corner and 1 from the bottom - enough to wrap around the leg another 3 or 4 times before tying off.

The original from the Sogards Mose, still wrapped around the leg of the wearer, may he rest in peace, is pictured in Roman Military Clothing 2 and a drawing of it unwrapped is in Croom's Roman Clothing.

cheers

~ concordia militum ~
harmony within the Army

[Tita Iuventia Martia]

Salvete,
Thank you all for your usefull help :-) )

vale and regards from Czech republic

[pivus]

My warm things - for winter

[Tita Iuventia Martia]

"I forgot to say gloves are not attested specifically for soldiers that I recall,
but were certainly used in the period for protection and for cold weather (digitabula).
I hope that is helpful."

Salve,
It is really helpfull, thank you, Salvianus :-) ) Can you tell me, how did you make your gloves? Or, where I can find a pattern?

vale

regards

[ioannes sebald]

Salvianus,how about Sheepskin Mitts/Mittens,as opposed to Gloves?(by the way,like that photo,looks cool out there :lol: ).