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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 Times

August 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 couldn’t cope with temperatures here and kept their socks on.

"It’s 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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1 posted on 08/26/2003 2:16:59 PM PDT by Antiwar Republican
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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...)
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To: Antiwar Republican

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)
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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To: JoeSixPack1; xsmommy

(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)
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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
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To: JoeSixPack1
excuse me for omitting the other poofter ; )
11 posted on 08/27/2003 8:12:55 AM PDT by xsmommy
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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)
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To: JoeSixPack1
girls can't be homos, you homo!
13 posted on 08/27/2003 10:52:36 AM PDT by xsmommy
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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)
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To: JoeSixPack1; martin_fierro
do you trust a man that wears this footwear to tell the truth?

do i look like a guy to you???

15 posted on 08/27/2003 11:03:08 AM PDT by xsmommy
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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)
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To: JoeSixPack1
here i am at CPAC.
17 posted on 08/27/2003 11:10:04 AM PDT by xsmommy
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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)
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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
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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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