KOTHORNOS

These were Greek sandals with raised heels which resembled a clog and were worn by tragic and comic actors. Kothornos were also known as cothurnus or bushkin and worn in Roman times. The swaggering gait of the Greek actors was understood to be erotic, sending females into ecstasy. The very thick sole of the kothornos appealed to the Romans and they thought it fitting they should be worn by tragic actors and hence gave the name cothurna, to the theatrical genre. The style was revived in the 19th century in the form of a light sandal type shoe worn tied with laces criss crossed up the leg.