Greek footwear

[Kineas]

Sigh. I agree. Sigh.

On topic, there evidence for bone eyelets for boots made in Athens. I gather that both cutting dies and some actual eyelets were found by the American School digs in 2007, but I have only hearsay evidence.

Bone eyelets sound cool and fairly practical.

[Martin Moser]

On topic, there evidence for bone eyelets for boots made in Athens. I gather that both cutting dies and some actual eyelets were found by the American School digs in 2007, but I have only hearsay evidence.

Hm, interesting, but I have to admit I'd doubt it until shown good proof. FWIW, eyelet strengthening on shoes by cords or leather doubling is shown by finds from the 2nd/3rd cent. AD.

[John Conyard]

My cavalry boots have arrived. Made by Robin Brown of http://www.rigorevali.co.uk/ I'm very pleased with them. Currently I wear them with a simple foot wrap.
[attachment=0:1n983ohw]<!-- ia0 CIMG5055.jpg<!-- ia0 [/attachment:1n983ohw]

[Peter Raftos]

Material found at the house of Simon the cobbler's 5th C workshop includes:
bone eyelets [url:3g6iduwj]http://www.agathe.gr/cgi-bin/image?lookup=2000.02.1074[/url], iron hobnails [url:3g6iduwj]http://www.agathe.gr/cgi-bin/image?lookup=2004.01.1528[/url],
whetstone [url:3g6iduwj]http://www.agathe.gr/cgi-bin/record?lookup=ST+670[/url],
and the base of a cup inscribed with Simon's name [url:3g6iduwj]http://www.agathe.gr/cgi-bin/image?lookup=2000.02.1076[/url].

See:
The Athenian Agora: a short guide
John McK. Camp, Craig A. Mauzy, American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Photographs by Craig A. Mauzy
Contributor Craig A. Mauzy
Edition: 2, illustrated
Published by ASCSA, 2003
ISBN 0876616430, 9780876616437
48 pages

Athens, Attica, and the Megarid: an archaeological guide
By Hans Rupprecht Goette
Edition: revised, illustrated
Published by Routledge, 2001
ISBN 041524370X, 9780415243704
400 pages

[John Conyard]

The eyelets are interesting. They look very like bone beads.

[hoplite14gr]

5th cent B.C. richly decorated sandal sole found in Vravrona.

Still in the categorization documentation process

[hoplite14gr]

Also sixth century havy soled boots from Elefsina Museum.

[Martin Moser]

Material found at the house of Simon the cobbler's 5th C workshop includes:
bone eyelets [url:3g6iduwj]http://www.agathe.gr/cgi-bin/image?lookup=2000.02.1074[/url], iron hobnails [url:3g6iduwj]http://www.agathe.gr/cgi-bin/image?lookup=2004.01.1528[/url],
whetstone [url:3g6iduwj]http://www.agathe.gr/cgi-bin/record?lookup=ST+670[/url],
and the base of a cup inscribed with Simon's name [url:3g6iduwj]http://www.agathe.gr/cgi-bin/image?lookup=2000.02.1076[/url].

Only noticed this now, very interesting! Thanks for posting!
However, note this:
"Notes: The page numbers and finds listed are an effort to put this "group" together; not really a defined closed deposit as much confusion between layer numbering and digging."
Not really a sure thing for the bone thingies to have anything to do with shoes, could have been beads for a nechlace or something just as well IMHO.

[Martin Moser]

Also sixth century havy soled boots from Elefsina Museum.

Great - thanks for sharing! The upper of those is quite similar to the sandal sole(?) you posted just before, btw.

[sitalkes]

So what do you think the iphicratid was?

[hoplite14gr]

After seen the sources and the great reconstructions here I am of the opinion that the
"Ificratid boot" was like the thacian boot minus the flaps and probaby very reinforced leather/skin around the calves. A reinforced beotian boot I think.
It might be a joke though ( :!: ) Ifikrates father was a ...shoemaker!!!!!
A remark perhaps in the way he decided to "chew" on state funds and help the family?

Kind regards

[richard robinson]

Giannis I have searched half this thread looking for your reference to a cork sole you had seen in a museum. Please could you give more detail about this and perhaps photo/link/reference?
Regards mile:
Richard Robinson

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Hello Richard
The cork soles i saw were in the Aphipolis museum, and belonged to a child's shoes. They were probably the inner sole, and they had holes of stitching all the way around.
It is tricky to post photos here because i do not have access to my pc. Sorry.
Khaire
Giannis

[richard robinson]

I have been googling images and though a search does turn up one angled image it is not labled at all so your infomation is brilliant. Thankyou

Regards
richard

[sitalkes]

After seen the sources and the great reconstructions here I am of the opinion that the
"Ificratid boot" was like the thacian boot minus the flaps and probaby very reinforced leather/skin around the calves. A reinforced beotian boot I think.
It might be a joke though ( :!: ) Ifikrates father was a ...shoemaker!!!!!
A remark perhaps in the way he decided to "chew" on state funds and help the family?

Kind regards

That's very interesting, what is the purpose of such a design? The Thracian boot seems designed for cavalry use (or for walking in snow/cold eg on top of Thracian mountains). How would this design assist a man on foot, especially a peltast? Why was it an improvement?