Ancient Egyptian sandal from Faiyum dated 30 BC – AD 395

A leather sandal (Right hand shoe of a pair, see 1902.53.34.a). Narrow leather sole, with pointed toe, and leather tooling to the upper part of the sole with what appears to be geometric designs? The sole is made up of three pieces of leather together, and stitched together at the edge with leather thread. One piece of rolled leather strap is split so that it rises from both sides of the sole, and then reverts to being one piece near the centre front of the shoe. It would originally been stitched through the front of the sole, but it has broken off. However remains of the strap are still piercing the centre front of the sole. The leather is dry and encrusted with sand/soil. There is a small hole near the back of the heel, has a piece of lether in it. The sandal is very narrow by today’s standard, and too long to have fitted a child?
Colour: brown

Ancient Egyptian sandal from Faiyum dated 30 BC – AD 395

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1902.53.34.b
  • Material: leather
  • Period: Roman Period
  • Excavator: B.P. Grenfell
  • Dated: 30 BC - AD 395
  • Object name: sandal
  • Dimensions: Length: 235mm , Width: 65mm , Depth: 12mm
  • Site: Faiyum
  • Latitude: 29.308374
  • Longitude: 30.844105