First century closed shoes

[Caballo]

This pic from Pompeii shows closed shoes-


Any other ideas or pics as to what they might look like? Calcei??

Cheers

Paul

[Robert]

These would be what Carol van Driel-Murray classes as "Sewn Boots: style Mainze". These were common all over the empire and her dating ranges from first century B.C. to the 70's A.D. Examples are present from Velsen, Valkenburg, Xanten and Mainz. For soldiers, the Fell and Allendale boot would be appropriate (but only have been found in the Northern provinces), these date from late first century to about 120 AD. The Fell is a closed boot, the Allendale has an openwork pattern. In both cases the upper is sown from a single piece.
Source: Stepping through Time. Olaf Goubitz, SPA uitgeverij 978-90-8932-002-5

[Caballo]

Thanks Robert!

[Paul Elliott]

Alex Croom says in 'Roman Clothing & Fashion' that 'the men at the bakers shop ...wear dark brown ankle boots. In the early empire they were worn particularly by poor people or country folk. Juvenal refers to 'the man who is not ashamed to wear high boots in time of frost' (Sat. 14.185)

[Martin Moser]

Robert summarized it all quite nicely out of Stepping Through Time. I'm positive there were many types and variants we'll never know of, so this is a best guess approach of course.
For a reconstruction of the Mainz type see http://sutor.jimdo.com/shoes/roman-shoes/mainz-calceus/.

As for

Alex Croom says in 'Roman Clothing & Fashion' that 'the men at the bakers shop ...wear dark brown ankle boots. In the early empire they were worn particularly by poor people or country folk.

I doubt that this holds true for the type of closed shoes we are talking about here. These shoes are quite sophisticated in terms production techniques and overal time involved. I expect poorer folks to have gone with cruder carbatinae styles out of sheer financial necessity. These are easier and quicker to produce and can be made on your own, too.
Also, we see the people in the procession on the Ara Pacis wear closed ankle boots of at least 3 types. Neither poor nor rural folks ;-)

Cheers,
Martin

[Paul Elliott]

These shoes are quite sophisticated in terms production techniques and overal time involved. I expect poorer folks to have gone with cruder carbatinae styles out of sheer financial necessity.
Martin

Having made a couple of pairs myself ... I agree, they would seem to be expensive things to make and purchase.

[Caballo]

Although as the fresco depicts a free handout of bread from a white clothed election candidate (as I've now found out after the Pompeii exhibition at the BM) , the artist depicting his concept of the "poor bloke from the country" depiction may not be entirely wrong either!

[Martin Moser]

I have a decent income I think and at the same time have to admit that I'm not above accepting a free hot dog or pint of beer when someone pushes it on to me ... :whistle:

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Is it a free handout? Or is it a market scene?
I remember the free bread handouts talked about in the sources, but was that not just in Rome?

[Caballo]

Politicians will always do giveaway wherever they want to be elected....and whenever!!

[M. Demetrius]

You mean like "bread and circuses"?? Worked then, works now.