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Hi!
In the group, we were wondering, that apart from the fur-pileus, could the late romans (4-5th cent.) use furs as decoration (you know, like a fox on the back)? Our sources give us no mention, but the use of fur hats as a standard raises the question.
Mark - Legio Leonum Valentiniani
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Those piliei/Pannonian caps aren't really fur. Most are made from wool (atrachan sheep) or leather. Don't confuse them with modern fur hats, although fur might sometimes have been used. Fur trimmings don't seem to have been particular popular during Late Antiquity. Maybe it was seen as barbaric fashion?
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We got the idea of fur from Bishop's Roman Military Eq. pg. 172, "a leather or fur cap worn under the helmet." Though Osprey states the leather and "wooly leather" ones, that point is right, we will consider this in the future, we have to evolve in many aspects.
Thing is, we don't know "how barbaric" we can go. Obviously we want uniformity, and we have a rather strict concept, that we have to keep our timescale during the rign of Valentinian I. He has a lot of strings attached to the area we live around. But we tend to encourage personal development of our equipment after it has been agreed on by the majority, and that opens up possibilities to look a bit more barbarian.
PS. Thanks for the likes on FB, it means a lot
Mark - Legio Leonum Valentiniani