01-30-2007, 04:25 PM
Something I noticed in a letter in my newspaper on Saturday. There is a discussion on scarfs in the letters pages at the moment for some reason. In one of them, after talking about silk scarves and woolen mufflers, the author goes on to say:
Any thoughts? My understanding was the the focale was worn throughout the Empire, not just in the cold bits, and the author speaks very authoritatively on how it was worn! Also I find it hard to believe that (even if the focale WAS designed to keep out the cold) the Roman Army, cunning as they were, were the first people to think of wrapping a bit of cloth around the neck to keep it warm.
Quote:The scarf, I believe, evolved over the centuries from the woollen focale, devised by Roman soldiers deployed in northern Europe to protect them from the unnaccustomed cold. The focale was wound around the neck, with the long ends hanging loose on the chest.
Any thoughts? My understanding was the the focale was worn throughout the Empire, not just in the cold bits, and the author speaks very authoritatively on how it was worn! Also I find it hard to believe that (even if the focale WAS designed to keep out the cold) the Roman Army, cunning as they were, were the first people to think of wrapping a bit of cloth around the neck to keep it warm.
Carus Andiae - David Woodall
"The greatest military machine in the history of the universe..."
"What is - the Daleks?"
"No... the Romans!" - Doctor Who: The Pandorica Opens
"The greatest military machine in the history of the universe..."
"What is - the Daleks?"
"No... the Romans!" - Doctor Who: The Pandorica Opens