Pca-Awkum

"An artist should keep his measuring tools not in his hand, but in his eye."
- Michelangelo

Self-portrait of Hans Temple (1857–1931)
in the studio with a model (1882)

Ancient Roman footwear displayed at Vindolanda Fort, Northumberland, England.

These 1,800-year-old caligae—sturdy openwork boots with hobnailed soles—were the standard issue for legionaries and cavalrymen. Made from a single piece of cowhide, reinforced with iron (sometimes bronze) nails, and laced up to the ankle, they were practical and durable. Soldiers wearing them were called caligati—“the booted ones.”

By the end of the 1st century, however, the army shifted to calcei, enclosed boots offering greater warmth and protection, which later spread into civilian fashion.

Vindolanda itself, a Roman auxiliary fort predating Hadrian’s Wall, was occupied from about 85–370 AD. Excavations there have revealed a wealth of artifacts, providing insight into Roman frontier life.

Archaeologists have discovered that humans sheltered in the Umm Jirsan lava tube of northern Saudi Arabia for over 7,000 years. Located in Harrat Khaybar, about 125 km north of Medina, the cave preserved artifacts, skeletal remains, and rock art that reveal a long history of occupation. Evidence shows pastoralists used the site as early as the Neolithic, with depictions of sheep, goats, and cattle, as well as bones from domesticated animals. Later finds suggest the rise of oasis agriculture, with cereals and fruits supplementing a protein-rich diet. More than a dwelling, Umm Jirsan likely served as a hub for travelers and herders moving between settlements, making it a crucial waypoint in Arabia’s ancient cultural and trade networks.

🔸Bronze Age frescoes from Knossos (in Crete), Thera (Santorini), and Mycenae (in Peloponnese); 17th–13th Century BC.

• Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, Crete
• National Archaeological Museum, Athens
• Museum of Prehistoric Thera, Santorini

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan: Advertisement: Visiting Faculty Required for Fall Semester 2025

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