Shoes

The shoes worn by the Greeks generally reached to the middle of the leg; the Romans had the calceus and the sole a or sandal; the former was worn with the toga on ordinary occasions; the sandal on a journey or at a feast; but it was considered effeminate to appear in public with them. Black shoes were worn by the citizens of ordinary rank (see At ramentum, Chalcanthum ), and white ones (sometimes red) by the women; on ceremonial occasions the magistrates wore red shoes. Patricians and their children wore a crescent shoe-buckle (see Luna ). Slaves went barefooted. The Jews had shoes of leather, wood, ., tied with thongs pa ed under the soles of the feet; to “untie the latchets” of a man’s shoes was a sign of deep subservience. In ancient as in modern times the Oriental peoples put off their shoes as we uncover the head. (Consult Herbert Spencer on Ceremonies.)