RomanArmyTalk
Puttees - Printable Version

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Puttees - Caballo - 09-05-2007

A question for you Late Romans....

How do you get the criss-cross effect on leg wrappings as illustrated here in the Osprey picture?
[Image: Auxilia_Palatina.jpg]

Several of us tried at Corbridge, and even Len Morgan our primus pilus confessed himself stumped. Maybe we are just too stuck in the 1st C AD.... :wink:

Cheers

Caballo


Re: Puttees - Gaius Julius Caesar - 09-05-2007

I think I'm going to try this....still think it's possible..... :?


Re: Puttees - Tarbicus - 09-05-2007

Paul, I recently got some Italian WW2 putees and thin Viking winingas, each strip must be nine feet long, and I can't get it either. I'm fairly convinced the artistic representations are stylised and depict a normal but tight criss-cross pattern using thin strips (like the Viking winingas) on top of leggings or conventional style putees. On some representations like the Piazza Armerina mosaics you can just make out possible end bits where the strips are tucked back through and stick out a bit. This is what my trials and tribulations have come up with as well. Your illustration above looks like it interprets the original representations.


Re: Puttees - Salvianus - 09-05-2007

Whenever I try to recreate this pattern with fascia curales I get a mess. Of course, I'm usually a teensy bit short of sleep and late for ad signa :lol:

I used to start from the centre at the ankle and criss cross up, but it looked untidy and fell down all the time. I usually use large rectangular wraps now, based on that leg find, but if I need the padding for greaves, I currently start at one end, and wind up overlapping heavily & climbing at a shallow angle, which looks exactly like WWI era puttees.


Re: Puttees - Tarbicus - 09-05-2007

In fact, I just quickly tried again, and I had to use a pair of winingas for one leg :? That's 18 feet of thin straps on top of 8 feet of putee. I think it's about starting with one end at the top and spiralling it down the leg, then back up again. Then do the same with the second strap but feed it under the previous layers on the way back up.... I think.

Hastily done, but I think the lower part was going somewhere interesting.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i311/ ... 007344.jpg

Kinda. I think there's a practiced and methodical pattern to putting them on, which any Roman would probably do in a few minutes. A bit like learning how to do a bow tie :wink:


Re: Puttees - CWyre - 09-05-2007

That looks alot like an old style of bandaging i was taught on a 1st aid course a few years ago, if i remember right it gave a criss cross effect from one strip. If i can find a bandage i'll see if i can remember.


Re: Puttees - Gaius Julius Caesar - 09-05-2007

its crossing over and under from either side....Damn where did I put that roll of bandage :evil:


Re: Puttees - Mithras - 09-05-2007

Jim, I think you have cracked it! I've been trying to solve this mystery for a couple of years, and frankly - gave up! I will redouble my efforts using your instructions...

Quote:In fact, I just quickly tried again, and I had to use a pair of winingas for one leg :? That's 18 feet of thin straps on top of 8 feet of putee. I think it's about starting with one end at the top and spiralling it down the leg, then back up again. Then do the same with the second strap but feed it under the previous layers on the way back up.... I think.

Hastily done, but I think the lower part was going somewhere interesting.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i311/ ... 007344.jpg

Kinda. I think there's a practiced and methodical pattern to putting them on, which any Roman would probably do in a few minutes. A bit like learning how to do a bow tie :wink:



Re: Puttees - Tarbicus - 09-05-2007

Cheers Paul, but it's definitely one of those that you can spend a whole evening in front of the telly scratching your head and losing track of the programme you're watching. :? ?: Idea :!: :evil:


Re: Puttees - CWyre - 09-05-2007

Does it need a cross at the front and the back? i can't tell from the picture.
I just found a bandage and had a go and it's a kind of 'figure of eight' wrap that gives a cross at the front and parallel lines at the back.


Re: Puttees - Gaius Julius Caesar - 09-05-2007

I think it just crosses like that at the front. I am going to have some long ones made and have a go. It isn't going to be overcomplicated, it's only a strip of cloth. Perhaps 2 inches wide? This is beginning to bug me. I just tried with a roll of paper, close but no cigars yet!


Re: Puttees - FAVENTIANVS - 09-05-2007

You have to begin at the middle of the ribbon not at an end, and then wrapping alternatively both sides all around the leg, beginning at the toe tip up the knee.
[Image: calcei2rh.jpg]


Puttees - jonwr - 09-06-2007

Ivan jumped in just before me. You have to roll up the puttees from either end until you have two rolls.Start in the middle and cross in front as you unroll each side equally.
Jon R.


Re: Puttees - Tarbicus - 09-06-2007

I'm not sure about this necessity of beginning at the middle anymore, and I reckon you can do either way. Has anyone else tried using two pairs of straps on one leg, or an 18 foot length? I'm fairly sure that's the key. Also, overlapping alternately with each spiral (left over right, then right over left).

Another key factor might be not wrapping directly onto the leg, but onto a legging which helps keep them in place.


Re: Puttees - caiusbeerquitius - 09-06-2007

My Grandfather used to wear "Fußlappen" from time to time, since he was used to it from WWI. (Yes, he was quite old, born in 1899) Big Grin
He started in the middle, as Faventianus explained.