The History

 

The oldest known sandals (indeed, the oldestknown

footwear) were discovered in Fort Rock Cave in the

U.S. state of Oregon; radiocarbon dating of the

sagebrush bark.

 

The ancient Greeks distinguished between baxeae

(sing. baxa), a sandal made of willow leaves, twigs,

or fibres worn by comic actors and philosophers;

and the cothurnus, a boot sandal that rose above

the middle of the leg, worn principally by tragic

actors, horsemen, hunters, and by men of rank and

authority.

 

The sole of the latter was sometimes made much thicker than usual by the insertion of slices of cork, so as to add to the stature of the wearer. The ancient Egyptians wore sandals made of palm-leaves and papyrus. They are sometimes observable on the feet of Egyptian statues. According to Herodotus, sandals of papyrus were a part of the required and characteristic dress of the Egyptian priests.