Calcei, Roman legionary shoes, 2nd century AD
The family of Roman shoes known as “calcei” is truly extensive, encompassing a wide variety of footwear, both for civilian and military use.
The word “calceus” derives from the Latin calx, meaning heel or calcaneus. A calceus can be defined as a generally closed shoe, usually also enclosing the wearer’s ankle. The calceus was generally a sort of “national” footwear for Roman citizens.
Although when we think of Roman legionaries, we often think of caligae, Roman soldiers actually wore other types of footwear, including calcei, which became widely popular among soldiers starting in the 2nd century AD.
These shoes are based on numerous finds, mostly from military contexts. It is therefore very likely that they were worn by Roman legionaries and auxiliaries. Among the finds on which our shoes are based are those from the famous Vindolanda fort in Britain, along Hadrian’s Wall.
This particular type falls into the family of calcei perforati or calcei fenestrati.. It is a particular category of calceus, as described by Julius Pollux, in which the upper of the shoe was perforated, primarily for aesthetic purposes.
