Cold Weather

[M. Demetrius]

That's pretty cold if you have to be outside for long in our representations of Roman cold weather gear. I'll bet braccae became more popular on days like that, whether people thought them effeminate or not.

[Matthew Amt]

That's pretty cold if you have to be outside for long in our representations of Roman cold weather gear. I'll bet braccae became more popular on days like that, whether people thought them effeminate or not.

Even in the mid-first century AD, most Roman soldiers were provincials, not Italians (counting auxiliaries, that is). So they grew up with local fashions and would certainly have worn trousers and long sleeves whenever necessary. Remember, in the Year of Four Emperors, Vitellius' legionaries from Germany and Britain were not even recognized as Romans by the folks living in Rome!

Support Global Warming! Valete,

Matthew

[PhilusEstilius]

Thinking of Ice age reminds me of the winter of 1947 now that realy was a cold one particularly here near Hadrians' Wall I remember it well.

[Centurio]

Last December I went with my Group to the Finnish Bay in Northern Russia. The temperature was about -5 -10 C. We were marching through the snowy forest. We had the same clothes than at summer - sagum, two tunicas and femenalia trousers. On foot we had thiсk woolen socks and caligae. While marching it was sometimes hot, but when we stood in an open place for several minutes under the wind and snow, it was really cold! For the future I decided to have one clothes for summer and another for the winter.

[PhilusEstilius]

I have at times wondered if all Roman soldiers in Northern Europe and Britain had 2 sets of boots, caligae for summer and the closed calceus for winter.

When we hear about their pay deductions there always appears to be a large reduction for footwear, just a thought I suppose.

[Arminius Primus]

Ave,

Marcus, Thanks for the great pictures, That is the kind of experience I wanted to learn about. There is a lot of exposed skin that will cool down very fast in those pictures.....you have some great troops, to endure a winter campaign like that!

Our sagum (i) made from natural wool would have had water repellent properties, and wool tunics would breathe and still retain body heat, but I guess the troops would get hot and then freeze at any halt. The point about calceus for winter wear makes a lot of sense.

Anyone have any idea if mittens or gloves were available. I vaguely remember something about gloves but I think there was some real discussion about their availability.

Regards from a still cold and snowy Balkans,

Arminius Primus aka Al

[Velite]

I know that existed gloves in old period, but I don't not know finds in the Roman Empire. Have you any information about this topic?

I also think that Roman shoes were closed for the winter and open for the summer. Indeed on Vindolanda were found closed boots for adults and for childrens.
Do not forget that there was also "Tibiales", bands to protect the legs from the cold.

Also in Italy is rather cold and snows enough. Finally a real winter!

Valete