Tents

By Andrew Yamato

Although we lack surviving artifacts or artistic depictions, the evidence for Ancient Greeks using tents on campaign is overwhelming.

Homer (probably) describes Greeks living in tents for a decade; the term he uses (skeuē) is ambiguously translated as “shelter,” but given the scarcity of ready timber on the Troad (or much of mainland Greece for that matter), he is more likely referring to tents than wooden structures. Thucydides records how during the Peloponnesian War, the Syracusans "marched with all their people to Catana, and ravaged the land and set fire to the tents (σκηνάς) and encampment of the Athenians" (6.75.2). He also records that the Syracusans building counter-walls to prevent Athenian circumvallation retired to their tents at midday, which is when the Athenians chose to attack them (6.100.1). Xenophon makes frequent and routine mention of tents (including leather tents, which at one point his Cyreans stuff with straw to make rafts), and he refers to the smallest units of military organization as a suskeniai -- literally "those who sleep in the same tent" (which he uses interchangeably with sussitoi, or messmates). 

Our modern word “canvas” is derived from the Greek word cannibas (κάνναβις) so it’s probable that Greek tents were made of hemp. Although probably more expensive then as now, linen was almost certainly used as well. We also have surviving artifacts of later Roman military tents made from a patchwork of goatskin leather, which suggest that this material was also used in earlier antiquity. We have made tents of both materials, as seen below.

Goatskin Tent Construction

Tents are critical pieces of reenacting equipment. Fortunately, for our impression, a simple two-man tent is exceedingly easy to make by simply joining two 6-7 foot lengths of standard 5 foot wide hemp or linen canvas (16oz or more is a good substantial weight) down the middle. The outer edges of the fabric will then need to be fitted with reinforced holes or leather loops to take short tent-stake ropes made from hemp or jute. A primitive “pebble and string” method can also be used; this involves placing a small stone in a gathered “pouch” of tent material and trying it off with a cord that gets looped around a stake. The stakes themselves can be wood or forged iron. A wooden frame can be as simple as a spear shaft laid across two forked branches, but you can also construct a simple lumber crossbar attached to poles with dowel pins. You’ll want poles tall enough to allow you to sit comfortably inside (about 4’).

For our personal tent, I opted for goatskin, which is relatively inexpensive, lightweight, durable, and more or less waterproof.

Canvas Tent Construction