Did Romans wear socks?

26/08/2003 20:34  - (SA)  

ondon - The idea that the ancient Romans were tougher than the English weather may have taken a knock.

Archaeologists excavating a Roman site in London unearthed a bronze foot from a statue that appears to be wearing a sock, according to a release on Tuesday.

The Romans, who occupied much of Britain for several centuries, have traditionally been seen as tough and hardy settlers who wore open toe sandals even in the coldest winter weather. The recent find could turn that idea on its head.

"The foot is wearing a Mediterranean-type sandal but the garment with it may have been some kind of woolen stocking," said Nansi Rosenberg, senior archaeological consultant at EC Harris, which is managing the excavation of a temple complex in Southwark, south London.

"It's embarrassing for them," she said of the possible dent in the Roman reputation for toughness.

http://www.news24.com/News24/Backpage/HotGossip/0,,2-1343-1344_1407250,00.html
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Wait a second. We don't even know if Romans wore socks then how could we KNOW all of these things printed in the Bible?

http://darkerxdarker.tripod.com/

 



 
 
 
 

... or at least, sandal-liners ... in the excavations at Vindolanda.


http://www.geocities.com/whisker_face/vindolanda/vindolanda.html
http://www.larp.com/legioxx/coldcloth.html

There's a BBC piece on this titled, "Romans' crimes of fashion revealed."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3181443.stm

The latest find, while of important historical significance, has done little to improve the Romans' standing as a great civilisation.

<snip>

Whoever the sock-wearer turns out to be, poor dress sense can now be added to the list of things the Romans gave to the world.

I may be revealing my own criminal lack of fashion sense, but I have to admit I don't get it. I wear sandals with socks all winter, except in the snow or extreme cold. Sandals are far more comfortable than shoes -- but I certainly don't want my toes hanging out naked when it's in the 30's. So what's the big deal?

Knee length socks? With Bermuda shorts?

How about white leather belts?

in cold weather. What? Are Eskimos not tough just because they dress for the conditions?

BTW, Romans are always portrayed wearing sandals. That's not strictly true, however. Only soldiers and the very poor wore sandals. Everyone else wore closed-toe leather ankle-boots. And the sandals worn by the Legionaries were really open-toed, thick soled, hob-nailed combat boots.

Those discus throwers have a saying: Noli bolas coniungere meaning "don't get your balls in a knot". Early discus throwers were finding themselves unable to continue into the second round of competition. The word JOCK comes from the Latin jacere, meaning "to throw".

You could look it up.