Roman \"Canteen\"

[A_Volpe]

FWIW I also use a pottery "bottle" shape canteen (from Venetian Cat) for a good few years now and it's held up surprisingly well.
(Lasts better than the hemp netting & shoulder strap but I digress)

I'm also on the school of thought that the metal canteens/flasks we see may have been meant for other liquids (oils) or substances
and not meant for drinking water. It's my understanding that military canteens in 19th-20th century contexts is they [were] made of tin or perhaps tin-lined, and not iron. I seem to recall most canteens from the American Civil War were predominately made of tin, a handful made of wood. (and wood canteens, leather costrels certainly dating back to 15th century). The ACW canteen that my unit uses is all tin, copied from an original. As long as it's emptied/dried out after use, rust usually isn't a big deal.

I can't really see iron being practical for a water canteen, but hey, maybe I'm missing information.

Recently I'm wondering if Romans had more of shared/communal water 'stations', sort of like the ubiquitous "water-tank bubbler/cooler in the Office", and everyone brings their own cup.

Water being kept in large cisterns in Roman-Egypt, with some guards to monitor it is known (Bagnall); and with the use of large amphora and pottery, I wonder if that was part of a system, again not unlike the water-tank bubbler with 'regular deliveries' via cart (or some such).

It is indeed frustrating where something seemingly so mundane and not recorded (or that had survived) for us to glean more information about. Either way, be it pottery, skin, wood, whatever, just stay hydrated.