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Spartan Shoes
#1
I'm making a pair.

Now, to be frank, I'm making a pair because I thought that Nick Sekunda's educated guesswork on the Spartan shown in Marathon (Osprey) was interesting and at least believable, given the paucity of evidence.

In Greece, Giannis and I found several different evidences of Greek use of hobnails (or rivets) in copper-alloy and in iron. Why does that matter?

This last weekend, while fighting (in 6th c. panoply, but against 2nd C. AD Romans), the hobnails on the Roman caligae left an indelible impression on the tops of my feet, and I realized what a useful weapon the shoe might be (although I would also note that despite several fairly deep hobnail penetrations, I was never tempted to stop fighting).

Suddenly, the shoe that Sekunda sees as Spartan made sense--especially the top strap that would protect the foot, even under the laces.

[Image: 3686142286_8a051d7e90.jpg?v=0]

Having just run two stades in armor, the idea of a sandal that holds the whole foot seems much more important, and a shoe-sided sandal would further support the base of a greave with minimal pain on the top of the instep--all of you who have worn greaves know what I mean.

Further, while walking around the "Dance Floor of Ares" (Boeotia) Giannis and I noticed how very, very impractical sandals were--at least the open-thong variety--as they caught a variety of burrs and sharp thorns from weeds that grew in the grain--weeds that Giannis hastened to tell me were demonstrably period to the 5th C. BCE. Again, the "shoe-sandal" would keep most of that out.

Finally, it's worth noting that "serious" soldiers wore "Spartan shoes" as well as men aping Spartan ways and various oligarchs, at least according to literature.

I think Mr. Sekunda got this one right, and I'm starting to make a pair. If anyone else out there has made them, all info appreciated. Just FYI (and I'll post my efforts) the first pattern worked pretty well, but I have some shoe-making experience. This is not a simple sandal!
Qui plus fait, miex vault.
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Messages In This Thread
Spartan Shoes - by Kineas - 07-04-2009, 01:45 AM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by hoplite14gr - 07-04-2009, 10:48 AM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Phalanx300 - 07-04-2009, 11:55 AM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by hoplite14gr - 07-04-2009, 04:07 PM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by M. Demetrius - 07-05-2009, 03:18 AM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Kineas - 07-06-2009, 05:06 PM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Kineas - 07-08-2009, 12:59 AM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Sutoris - 07-08-2009, 05:16 AM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Martin Moser - 07-08-2009, 05:43 AM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Mythos_Ruler - 07-08-2009, 11:49 PM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by D B Campbell - 07-10-2009, 07:24 PM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Gaius Julius Caesar - 07-10-2009, 07:43 PM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Sutoris - 07-14-2009, 07:01 PM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Martin Moser - 07-15-2009, 05:20 AM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Kineas - 07-17-2009, 03:27 PM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Sutoris - 07-17-2009, 07:27 PM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Phalanx300 - 07-24-2009, 09:49 PM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Lýsandros - 07-27-2009, 05:58 AM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by M. Demetrius - 07-27-2009, 12:12 PM
Re: Spartan Shoes - by Kineas - 07-27-2009, 12:51 PM

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