Braccae
Braccas are a type of ancient Roman trousers. The braki's length was slightly below the knees,which distinguishes them from the barbarian trousers that reached to the ankles. For a long time,the Romans considered trousers an attribute of uncivilized barbarians,and for wearing them you could incur severe punishment. However,after the conquest of the northern territories,there was a need for warmer clothing,and braccae became part of the legionnaire's equipment legionary. Archaeological finds of pants have been made in the Netherlands,Germany and France. Wool and leather braccae were found.
Leather marriages from Valkenburg,Netherlands,1st-2nd century AD
Braccae,Kunstpalast Museum,Dusseldorf,inv. no. 12754,1-2 century AD
Braccae,Kunstpalast Museum,Dusseldorf,inv. no. 12754,1-2 century ADThe woolen trousers found in Damendorf and Thorsberg cannot be called marriages,as they are ankle-length and belong to barbaric clothing,for example,they could be worn by Celts and Germans. In addition,the trousers were sewn from a fabric not of linen,but of twill weave,more common among barbarian peoples.
Damendorf trousers,pattern,135-335 AD
Pants from Damendorf,135-335 AD.
Damendorf trousers,pattern,135-335 ADThere are also many visual sources. Starting in the second century AD,marriages began to enter the Roman fashion,and not only in the northern regions. On the column of Trajan and the monument of Adamklissia,you can see legionnaires and auxiliaries in marriages,but there are examples with Praetorians.
Praetorian in marriages. Column of Antoninus Pius. Second half of the 2nd century AD
Image of marriages on Trajan's column,early 2nd century ADLiterature
Ancient Danish Textiles from bogs and burials,a comparative study of Costume and Iron Age Textiles by Margrethe Hald. The National museum of Denmark 1980. ISBN 87-480-0312-3. Schlabow,Karl: Textilfunde der Eisenzeit in Norddeutschland,Göttinger Schriften zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte,Band 15,Karl Wachholtz Verlag Neumünster,1976,ISBN 3-529-01515-6. Hald,Margrethe: Olddanske tekstiler,komparative tekstil- og dragthistoriske studier paa grundlag af mosefund og gravfund fra jernalderen,Det kongelige Nordiske Oldskriftsselskab,femte bind,Nordisk Forlag 1950.
Related topics
Legionary,Auxiliaries,The Praetorian Guard,Germanic Peoples,The Celts
Pants from Damendorf,image from the book by Margaret Hald,rear view,135-335 AD
Pants from Damendorf,image from the book by Margaret Hald,front view,135-335 AD
Damendorf trousers,a sketch of trousers and cloth,135-335 AD.
Trousers from Thorsberg,3rd-4th century AD.
Trousers from Thorsberg,3rd-4th century AD.
Pants from Damendorf,135-335 AD.Interested in Ancient Rome beyond reading? Join Legio X Fretensis or explore our reenactment directions. Reenactment
