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The sandal? Roman Britons put a sock in it too
Times of London ^
| August 26, 2003
| Dalya Alberge
Posted on 08/26/2003 2:16:59 PM PDT by Antiwar Republican
London TimesAugust 26, 2003
The sandal? Roman Britons put a sock in it too
By Dalya Alberge, Arts Correspondent
WHAT did the Romans ever do for us? Well, they may have started us on a fashion crime for which we are mocked in the rest of Europe to this day: wearing socks with sandals.
An archaeological discovery in London suggests that the sartorial solecism was afoot almost 2,000 years ago. A life-size bronze foot, unearthed last month and dated to the 2nd century AD, clearly shows that Roman Britons wore socks with their sandals. No doubt their excuse was the cold. The historian Tacitus, writing at that time, describes the British weather as "absolutely foul".
Nansi Rosenberg, senior archaeological consultant at E.C. Harris, which is managing the excavation of a three-acre temple complex in Southwark, said: "In the Mediterranean, they had the good sense to wear sandals with open toes, but they couldnt cope with temperatures here and kept their socks on.
"Its horribly embarrassing. Why did the British Romans have to wear socks? They disgraced themselves. I have a horrible image of them wearing big stripy leggings. This is an unexpected find."
Archaeologists are convinced the sculpted foot is wearing a sock because there is no indication of the modelling of toes or of any cleft between them. Even allowing for corrosion, it is clear that the straps go across the foot, rather than through the toes.
Finds of life-size Roman bronze statuary in Britain are extremely rare. The foot may have belonged to a statue of the god Mars Camulos, worshipped in northern France and Britain. The archaeologists have found an inscription bearing his name at the site. Alternatively, it may have come from a statue of an emperor.
"The thing is," Ms Rosenberg observed, "archaeologists are traditionally known for wearing socks with their sandals."
TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs
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To: Antiwar Republican
I refuse to wear socks with my Teva sandals.
2
posted on
08/26/2003 2:53:48 PM PDT
by
Khurkris
(Ranger On...)
To: Antiwar Republican
![](http://www.photoshopdiva.com/images/personal/birkies.jpg)
Geekicvs Maximvs.
3
posted on
08/26/2003 4:09:01 PM PDT
by
martin_fierro
(A v v n c v l v s M a x i m v s)
To: martin_fierro
Geekicvs Maximvs. Only because of the color of the sox.
4
posted on
08/26/2003 5:42:22 PM PDT
by
Salman
(Mickey Akbar)
To: Antiwar Republican
Do you have a link to the actual story?
5
posted on
08/26/2003 9:13:12 PM PDT
by
ellery
To: Antiwar Republican
I am sure it is Mars Geekus, god of engineers. If so, what a find! Had they found the entire statue, I am sure there would have been a stylus protector.
I'll bet the socks were white, too.
6
posted on
08/27/2003 4:58:47 AM PDT
by
Adder
To: martin_fierro; JoeSixPack1
get a load of marteen's pink sox....; )
7
posted on
08/27/2003 5:01:38 AM PDT
by
xsmommy
To: martin_fierro
You're Gay!
And a homo too!!
8
posted on
08/27/2003 7:18:34 AM PDT
by
JoeSixPack1
(POW/MIA - Bring 'em home, or send us back! Semper Fi)
To: JoeSixPack1; xsmommy
![](http://209.237.0.15/~jkahn/temp/arnold_you_are_the_homo.jpg)
(or at a minimum, the JAGOFF)
<|:P~
9
posted on
08/27/2003 8:11:06 AM PDT
by
martin_fierro
(A v v n c v l v s M a x i m v s)
To: martin_fierro
there go you two poofters with the finger pointing again....
10
posted on
08/27/2003 8:12:17 AM PDT
by
xsmommy
To: JoeSixPack1
excuse me for omitting the other poofter ; )
11
posted on
08/27/2003 8:12:55 AM PDT
by
xsmommy
To: xsmommy
He was pointing at YOU!!
<|:-)~~
12
posted on
08/27/2003 10:51:20 AM PDT
by
JoeSixPack1
(POW/MIA - Bring 'em home, or send us back! Semper Fi)
To: JoeSixPack1
girls can't be homos, you homo!
13
posted on
08/27/2003 10:52:36 AM PDT
by
xsmommy
To: xsmommy
Untrue.
But Marteen said you waz 1 of da guys?
Did Marteen fib?
14
posted on
08/27/2003 10:59:55 AM PDT
by
JoeSixPack1
(POW/MIA - Bring 'em home, or send us back! Semper Fi)
To: JoeSixPack1; martin_fierro
do you trust a man that wears this footwear to tell the truth?
![](http://www.photoshopdiva.com/images/personal/birkies.jpg)
do i look like a guy to you???
15
posted on
08/27/2003 11:03:08 AM PDT
by
xsmommy
To: xsmommy
When did I see you???
16
posted on
08/27/2003 11:06:54 AM PDT
by
JoeSixPack1
(POW/MIA - Bring 'em home, or send us back! Semper Fi)
To: JoeSixPack1
17
posted on
08/27/2003 11:10:04 AM PDT
by
xsmommy
To: xsmommy
WOW,, for a Homo you look GREAT!!
<|:-)~~
18
posted on
08/27/2003 11:12:45 AM PDT
by
JoeSixPack1
(POW/MIA - Bring 'em home, or send us back! Semper Fi)
To: JoeSixPack1; martin_fierro
i ain't old and ain't no homo. you are mistaking me for that jagoff, marteen. ; )
19
posted on
08/27/2003 11:15:30 AM PDT
by
xsmommy
To: xsmommy
OMG!!! Is that you too?? You look just like Paul Lynde , Amazing!! A true homo icon!!
<|:-)~~
20
posted on
08/27/2003 11:20:22 AM PDT
by
JoeSixPack1
(POW/MIA - Bring 'em home, or send us back! Semper Fi)
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