Bath sandals

Reproduction of wooden clogs, for thermal baths, with wooden wedges and a leather strip at the top fastened with metal studs.

These soccus or clogs were worn by both men and women; they served to protect the feet from the hot floor of the thermal baths and prevent slipping on wet surfaces. These specifically are a replica of ones found in Vindolanda, England. Normally this type of wooden objects are not usually preserved but thanks to the conditions of this site they have been able to be preserved and thus reach our days.

Clogs were not exclusively used in the thermal baths; they were also worn by comedy actors, farmers, and in the city they were worn when the pavement was wet or muddy. Even emperors have worn clogs, as we read in the dialogues of the benefits (Seneca 2,12) where rich and ornate clogs that Caligula wore are described.

This type of footwear sometimes carried a stamp with the author's name, for example the originals on which this replica is based have the maker's mark Lucius Aebutius Thales and are found in the Roman Army Museum.