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Leggings & Hadrians Wall
#1
Hi<br>
<br>
I have abook on Hadrians wall which has an illustration showing a cavalryman with sheepskin leggings ( in winter ).<br>
<br>
Arethere any ancient illurations which support this or is it just a sensible supposition ?<br>
<br>
Conal <p></p><i></i>
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#2
I've got that book. Fabulous book, and a great illustration. I always wondered about those leggings. Look great, anyway! <p><strong>Paul Elliott/<em>Caius Fortunatus</em></strong><br>
<br>
3rd Century Auxiliary (<em>Cohors Quinta Gallorum</em>)<br>
<br>
4th Century Legionnary (<em>Comitatus</em>)<br>
<br>
www.geocities.com/zozergames/interactive.html</p><i></i>
~ Paul Elliott

The Last Legionary
This book details the lives of Late Roman legionaries garrisoned in Britain in 400AD. It covers everything from battle to rations, camp duties to clothing.
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#3
There is a relief from Neumagen that shows a mounted hunter wearing what looks like wrap-around leggings. AFAIR it isn't the only one, but I recall it because I'm working on making the hood work, patternwise. That may be a starting point, at least.<br>
<br>
Titus Flavius Artemidorus <p></p><i></i>
Der Kessel ist voll Bärks!

Volker Bach
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#4
I think I know that book, too: Hadrian's Wall in the days of the Romans, right? Love it. Of course, once you realise that among the instruments lying ready to use on a military surgeon's table on page 63 is a vaginal speculum, you start wondering.<br>
<br>
nice book, though. <p></p><i></i>
Der Kessel ist voll Bärks!

Volker Bach
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#5
It was published a while ago so must be treated in line with the knowledge of the times.<br>
<br>
It may not have been teh first time an instrument was used for a purpose other than that it was designed for <p></p><i></i>
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#6
You have to use a bit of common sense here. Unless we get some reference at Vindolanda there is not going to be a classical reference to them nor indeed a stele . It would be like the new statue of the Queen mother showing her in wellies and garden gloves.<br>
<br>
Anyone who has had experience of the windsill in winter will realise that tunics and caligae are out. You dress for the weather. Sheep skin leggings are a perfect adaptation to the climate and would certainly be used. Graham Sumner refers to to woolen leggings in his book using German bog burials as authority. I notice they are in my Latin dictionary "ocrea" <p></p><i></i>
Quod imperatum fuerit facimus et ad omnem tesseram parati erimus
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#7
Can anyone get a pic up of the cavalryman with the leggings?<br>
Thanks<br>
Johnny <p></p><i></i>
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#8
I'd be interested to see that picture as well. <p>Lucius Aurelius Metellus, draconarius, Secunda Brittanica<br>
www.greeneknightforge.bravehost.com </p><i></i>
Lucius Aurelius Metellus
a.k.a. Jeffrey L. Greene
MODERATOR
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#9
It is a copyrighted drawing by a recently deceased artist and his heirs have not given permission. <p>"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance -- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer</p><i></i>
Caius Fabius Maior
Charles Foxtrot
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#10
I believe the artist being refered to is Ronald Embleton, one of the first artists to try to paint the Roman soldier on the basis of archaeological rather than sculptural evidence. That said however, as far as I know there are no known examples of fur or skin leg wrappings. I have used woollen wrappings in cold weather and can attest to their effectiveness at keeping out the cold. If combined with socks and a cloak they totally negate any need for trousers I have found.<br>
<br>
Crispvs <p></p><i></i>
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers.  :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:

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#11
I see my dictionary uses the same word for greaves and leggings<br>
Ocrea <p></p><i></i>
Quod imperatum fuerit facimus et ad omnem tesseram parati erimus
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#12
No one has mentioned buckskin leggings (and pants?)for cavalry (not infantry). Deer was widely hunted and I suspect they did not dump the hides. Buckskin is soft, warm, waterproof and it doesn slip down the calf like puttees or simple cloth wrappings.<br>
There is no proof of it but given the design sophistication of other leather products such as shoes and saddles I would be surprised if they did not have an efficient, proven, reliable and sturdy system to protect the riders' legs, whether from the weather or the rubbing against the horse's flanks. Me no think woolen wrappings would do on horse back due to chafing problems --the leg wrapped in wool is in contact with the sweaty horse's flanks, the wool gets soaked and that's when trouble begins with the constant rubbing.. Actually it's better --in warm weather-- to leave the lower leg naked, as shown on the stelae.<br>
Still regarding riders: they may have worn open style shoes in summer but I'm pretty certain they didn't in winter because they would have ended with amputated toes due to freezing. Feet get cold on horseback, for some reason. Maybe the fact that the sole is also exposed. I remember having very cold feet, wearing thick soled boots and woolen socks, after a couple of hours riding in a 15/17 degrees centigrade temperatures and that don't really qualify as cold..<br>
I never rode in winter time and I don't plan to try anytime soon.. I hate cold feet.<br>
But anyways.. Think about buckskin.. Besides, it is really nice looking and the Romans were defnitely fashion victims.. <p></p><i></i>
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