Well-preserved Roman military sandal | Photo: Prioryman | Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
A military sandal (caliga) made of leather, preserved to our times, in good condition. The object was found in Qasr Ibrim, in the south of Egypt. The artefact is dated to the 1st BCE – 1st century CE. Currently, it is housed in the British Museum in London.
Caligae were footwear worn by Roman legionaries up to and including centurions. They were a form of shod sandals. They did not cover the fingers, they had a thick sole, studded with nails, consisting of several layers of leather. The sandals were attached to the feet with straps covering the instep and the lower leg. Additionally, leather or metal uppers covering the entire shin were worn.
