The “paenula”, a traveling cloak of the ancient Romans
How did the ancient Romans dress to travel?
Let us first consider that the journey, in ancient times, it was not always as pleasant and fun as it can be today, since the means available were what they were, and often whole days were needed, perhaps to be spent in the pouring rain or the scorching sun, to reach relatively close destinations. / P>
The Romans, pragmatic in every aspect of life, used special travel clothing if necessary, designed to allow maximum comfort during the journey and ample freedom of movement.
To face the longest and most stressful journeys, the typical garment was the laena, a tunic short to which was added, in the colder months, the paenula (in photo ) or caracalla talaris with cucullus, a large and enveloping cloak in heavy wool with hood, essential for sheltering from cold, rain and wind.
For summer trips, a wide-brimmed hat was worn to protect themselves from the sun's rays and the heat.
The travel shoes they were usually low, closed and tied with strings around the ankles.
The Romans' suitcases were nothing more than sturdy saddlebags of leather or cloth, which were hung from the saddle of the horse or mule, the animals with which one moved, instead the marsupium it was a small bag that was attached to the belt and which was used to hold coins or, sometimes, jewels.