Never knew socks in sandals is a Roman fashion trend
Letters have been recovered from a garrison at Hadrian’s Wall have revealed officers and their men begging family back home to send them extra subuclae (vests) and abollae (heavy cloaks).
Another soldier urged his loved ones to send him “Paria udonum ab Sattua solearum duo et subligariorum duo” which translates as “socks, two pairs of sandals and two pairs of underpants”.
The latest evidence corroborates the socks and sandal theory which first emerged when a Roman copper razor handle was recovered from the Tees near Darlington. It was in the shape of a foot adorned with an open-toed sandal and woollen sock.
Turns out socks with sandals was always in style
Where can I buy some of those sandals?!
What did the Romans write on? Paper wasn’t invented yet, so… parchment? Papyrus (Egypt was part of the empire)?
Mostly papyrus! It was cheap and available enough from trade routes that low-grade papyrus was used for wrapping.
In this case, however, the tablet used by re-enactor would hold a sheet of wax or lead inside the wood frame, which could be ‘erased’ and reused multiple times. Perfect for a soldier jotting down the night’s password, or taking note of those coming-and-going through a watchpoint!
