The sandal? Roman Britons put a sock in it too

Times of London ^ | August 26, 2003 | Dalya Alberge

[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."

[Khurkris]

I refuse to wear socks with my Teva sandals.

[martin_fierro]

Geekicvs Maximvs.

[Salman]

Geekicvs Maximvs.

Only because of the color of the sox.

[ellery]

Do you have a link to the actual story?

[Adder]

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.

[xsmommy]

get a load of marteen's pink sox....; )

[JoeSixPack1]

You're Gay!


And a homo too!!

[martin_fierro]

(or at a minimum, the JAGOFF)

<|:P~

[xsmommy]

there go you two poofters with the finger pointing again....

[xsmommy]

excuse me for omitting the other poofter ; )

[JoeSixPack1]

He was pointing at YOU!!

<|:-)~~

[xsmommy]

girls can't be homos, you homo!

[JoeSixPack1]

Untrue.

But Marteen said you waz 1 of da guys?

Did Marteen fib?

[xsmommy]

do you trust a man that wears this footwear to tell the truth?

do i look like a guy to you???

[JoeSixPack1]

When did I see you???

[xsmommy]

here i am at CPAC.

[JoeSixPack1]

WOW,, for a Homo you look GREAT!!

<|:-)~~

[xsmommy]

i ain't old and ain't no homo. you are mistaking me for that jagoff, marteen. ; )

[JoeSixPack1]

OMG!!! Is that you too?? You look just like Paul Lynde , Amazing!! A true homo icon!!

<|:-)~~