Roman female clothing and dress

[Decimus Aurelius Varus]

Adam, can you pm me her info too...? Cant find it anywhere.
Thanks

[scythius]

PM sent

[Chris B]

Thanks for the links. My wife decided to start her collection with two necklaces and two sets of earrings from Armamentaria. One necklace is rather plain, but she was hoping to use it with either Greek or early Roman. The other looks more Roman to me.

Julilla,

A lot of the jewelry you gave links to was absolutely beautiful. I think some of those will make it on to her list for when we can spend more on a piece. She wanted something to get started and then work into more. Thanks a lot.

[Julilla]

Please send your wife many greetings and tell her I hope she enjoys Roman reenactment as much as I do! Watch the sales on some of the sites, particularly the Met, and choose something nice after she's been to a year's worth of events.

:lol:

[Chris B]

One last question from me. Does anyone know which suppliers have fairly authentic shoes for Greek 5th Century or Roman 1st Century AD? I would prefer something that could pass for both. The thing that makes this tough is that my wife has a nerve disorder (RSD) after being hit by a drunk driver that effects the nerve endings of both her ankles, knees, and lower back.

With that said, I need a style of shoe or sandal that doesn't wrap or touch the ankle in any way. I was thinking of a simple leather thong type sandal, but wasn't sure of who made them in leather accurate for either of these periods. Thanks in advance again.

[Decimus Aurelius Varus]

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=20943
There is a thread started here. I found some sandals supposedly from a Vindolanda find that someone makes. I have the link at the bottom of the thread. Still not sure if they are accurate :?

[Aurelia]

Arelia,

Do you know of any distributor where one can find historically accurate women's jewelry for 1st century women...

I have made a few pieces myself. These are photos of items I have made for sale. Some are reproductions of actual finds, some are "inspired by" actual finds:

Jasper - http://www.theromanway.org/Jewelry/jewelry1.jpg
Jade - http://www.theromanway.org/Jewelry/jewelry2.jpg
Pearls - http://www.theromanway.org/Jewelry/jewelry3.jpg
Lapis Lazuli - http://www.theromanway.org/Jewelry/jewelry4.jpg
Amazonite - http://www.theromanway.org/Jewelry/jewelry5.jpg
Rose Quartz and Shell - http://www.theromanway.org/Jewelry/jewelry6.jpg

Aurelia

[Aurelia]

Does anyone know which suppliers have fairly authentic shoes for Greek 5th Century or Roman 1st Century AD?

I wear a pretty basic style, usually attributed to about the 4th c. but variations are found from other periods. It's the second pattern on this page: http://www.housebarra.com/EP/ep02/11shoe02.html

These are easy enough to make from a flat piece of leather, and sit just BELOW the ankle.

Aurelia

[Chris B]

Thanks again.

[Decimus Aurelius Varus]

Aurelia,
Are the bottoms just smooth leather? Or do they have hobnails? I slip around on modern floors enough with hobnails, i can imagine that it would be worse without.

[Marcus Mummius]

Aurelia,
Are the bottoms just smooth leather? Or do they have hobnails? I slip around on modern floors enough with hobnails, i can imagine that it would be worse without.

It's definitaly not worse without. It's the hobnails that make the shoes slippery on hard smooth surfaces, this is an authentic problem and mentioned by ancient authors.

here's a passage out of Flavius Josephus' work:

But there was one Julian, a centurion, that came from Eithynia, a man he was of great reputation, whom I had formerly seen in that war, and one of the highest fame, both for his skill in war, his strength of body, and the courage of his soul. This man, seeing the Romans giving ground, and ill a sad condition, (for he stood by Titus at the tower of Antonia,) leaped out, and of himself alone put the Jews to flight, when they were already conquerors, and made them retire as far as the corner of the inner court of the temple; from him the multitude fled away in crowds, as supposing that neither his strength nor his violent attacks could be those of a mere man. Accordingly, he rushed through the midst of the Jews, as they were dispersed all abroad, and killed those that he caught. Nor, indeed, was there any sight that appeared more wonderful in the eyes of Caesar, or more terrible to others, than this. However, he was himself pursued by fate, which it all not possible that he, who was but a mortal man, should escape; for as he had shoes all full of thick and sharp nails as had every one of the other soldiers, so when he ran on the pavement of the temple, he slipped, and fell down upon his back with a very great noise, which was made by his armor. This made those that were running away to turn back; whereupon those Romans that were in the tower of Antonia set up a great shout, as they were in fear for the man. But the Jews got about him in crowds, and struck at him with their spears and with their swords on all sides. Now he received a great many of the strokes of these iron weapons upon his shield, and often attempted to get up again, but was thrown down by those that struck at him; yet did he, as he lay along, stab many of them with his sword. Nor was he soon killed, as being covered with his helmet and his breastplate in all those parts of his body where he might be mortally wounded; he also pulled his neck close to his body, till all his other limbs were shattered, and nobody durst come to defend him, and then he yielded to his fate.

[Aurelia]

The sole is actually just plain ole leather, no hobnails. Quite grippy on a variety of surfaces, and really surprisingly comfy.

[Decimus Aurelius Varus]

Hmmmm, good to know. Thanks for the quote Jef :!:

[Marcus Mummius]

Hmmmm, good to know. Thanks for the quote Jef :!:

You're very welcome.

I can't count the times I almost slipped and crashed to the ground while wearing hobnailed boots. I haven't actually fallen down yet but I've witnessed a lot of other people hit the ground very hard (often carrying a pilum or spear, which is very dangerous for the soldiers around the one who slips and falls down). A soldier wearing a seg crashing full on his back makes a lot of noise

[QVINTVS ARTORIVS CORVINVS]

I guess this post is a bit old, but nonetheless relevant!

My wife is now interested in helping out with my Legionary expoits, seeing as my boys now are bitten with the bug at 7 & 9 :lol:

This is an image from one Keltica get-together that sparked her interest.
[attachment=0:1hlp9lv2]<!-- ia0 KEG's_Roman_Ladies.jpg<!-- ia0 [/attachment:1hlp9lv2]

So, my question goes out... are there decent patterns out there, as well as proper fabric suggestions. I am thinking of something in the way of High-borne Roman in the time period between 60 - 90 AD for Legio XXI.

Also, I would like to see some of the garments created by Mary Ann Sullivan of IX Hispana as well and discuss prices. If someone could PM me her contact info I would greatly appreciate it.

Regards,