Product description
In ancient Rome, footwear was not only functional but also a symbol of status. Skilled shoemakers were held in high regard and crafted custom-made shoes for upper-class clients. Ordinary citizens often made their own sandals — such as the simple sandalia or soleae, consisting of a sole with a strap between the toes. Soldiers wore sturdy military boots called caligae. For everyday use, leather shoes like the calceus worked for both indoor and outdoor wear, while the crepida featured a hard sole and side lacing.
The carbatina (plural: carbatinae) is the Latin name for a collared shoe made from a single piece of leather. Carbatinae spread throughout the Roman Empire and remained in use well into the first millennium AD. Shoemakers cut them from one piece of cowhide, forming both the sole and the upper with no stitched-on parts like outer soles. Farmers and poorer citizens wore these shoes most commonly. These sandals are perfect for Roman, Greek, Late Roman, or early medieval reenactment.
