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03-30-2005, 12:50 AM

Hi this is a net bag my wife knotted for me this evening and she is wanting to know how it looks. It looks very similar to the one pictured in Dan Petersons Roman Legions book on page 71. Its knotted from jute or hemp fiber I am not sure which it is. Its around 14 inches long, and about 4 inches in diameter. As you can see in the pic it has 4 braided ties at the opening, for closure and suspension. If these pass muster she will take orders for them to interested parties. 
 
<img src="http://images.faceparty.com/public/1125/images/doktorzaius_11980583.jpg" style="border:0;"/>

Iulia Cassia Vegetia · 04-03-2005, 11:43 AM

Gosh, I'm surprised nobody responded to your post-she did a great job. One of our LEG III Cyrenaica members is making some macrame bags for our group. The bottles I make are 9 inches tall and roughly 3 inches in diameter. They will hold about 1/2 liter of water. Pax et Lux, 
Julia Legio III Cyrenaica 
Maker of Amphorae 
 
"As you change your thoughts, so you change your world..."

**richsc** · 04-03-2005, 12:11 PM

You're right Iulia, it is a great job. If it gets to selling it however, it ought to go to Marketplace so folks see it in context. I'd like one (means I want one of your water jugs too!). Legio XX 
Caput dolet, pedes fetent, Iesum non amo

Daniel S Peterson · 04-03-2005, 02:18 PM

I think you did a nice job. The bag seen in book is to carry grain (in the inner linen sack), and of couse, inspired from the depiction on Trajan's Column.. There is some question though if this is the correct interpetration. I believe these may have been a kind of bladder-canteen that still exists today in the form of the Spanish "bota". The knit bag then makes sense, as piercing the bladder for any kind of carrying strap would cause it to leak. A knit back would provide support without puncturing the bladder. We know from actual finds and literary evidence that fluds were carried in wineskins, and the item on Trajan's column may be a smaller version of one. 
 
A knit bag that would "cushion" a ceramic container is also plausible, and Iulia's offering actually resembles a first century Roman vessel from the military site of Oberaden, (though the original had a carrying handle more typical of traditional jugs). 
 
I have recently came across another interesting water container possibility. It came from a Barbarian grave of the very late Roman/dark age period, and is a carved wooden water bottle very much like the traditional South German-Austrian style still made today (to hold a kind of alcholholic beverage). scanner is still not up, but it looks like the type carried by Austrian troops of the Napoleonic wars. This has no resemblence to the knit bag however, and these normally have their own atached carrying straps. I believe the ancient one had holes drilled for cords. 
 
Dan

Iulia Cassia Vegetia · 04-03-2005, 02:46 PM

Dan, 
DO post pics, both of the Oberaden jug and the carved wooden one as soon as your scanner is up. I would like to add them to my files and study them. 
Thanks so much. Pax et Lux, 
Julia Legio III Cyrenaica 
Maker of Amphorae 
 
"As you change your thoughts, so you change your world..."

Daniel S Peterson · 04-04-2005, 12:44 AM

Iulia, 
I'll be happy to. You also need to see some of the true Roman pottery flasks which should be of interest to reenactors. I do have an orignal medieval one that you may want to copy as well. I'm sure there is a much bigger market for authentic medieval pottery than Roman. (not that we Romans would want you to decrease Roman production. 
 
I've been meaning to send you pics of some antique Italian pottery decorated with dragons, as it looks kind of like the Italian pottery you do. I am curious where they came from and the significance of the dragons. Just haven't got around to taking the pictures yet. 
 
Dan

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