The distinction between sandals and other types of footwear can sometimes be fuzzy. The common understanding is that a sandal reveals most or all of the foot (especially the toes) to view while an enclosed shoe hides it.
Anthropologists believe that humans have been making and wearing shoes for more than 12,000 years to protect their feet from sharp rocks. Prehistoric man protected his feet by grabbing what was handy – bark, grass, large leaves and tying them to the sole with vines. In hot countries this developed into the sandal made from woven palms, grass fibers, animal hide or a slab of flat wood. The prehistoric man attached them to his feet with "thongs".
The oldest known sandals were discovered in Fort Rock Cave in the American state of Oregon; radiocarbon dating of the sagebrush bark from which they were woven indicates an age of at least 10,000 years.
The Ancient Egyptians wore sandals woven from plaited papyrus leaves. In time, they started designing different shoes for different purposes. For example, some of the sandals were made with upturned toes to give the wearer additional protection. These improvements upon the sandal created a need for shoemakers, and the ancient Egyptians became the first shoemakers in the world.
Egyptian leather sandals more than 3,300 years old can be in museums today.
The craftsmen of ancient Greece created artistic sandals. They were the most common type of shoes that women, who spent most of their time at home, wore.
The Greek sandals featured a multitude of straps with which they securely fastened to the foot. The top of the sandals were usually made of colored leather. The soles were crafted from cattle skin, of even better quality and made up of several layers.
The Romans wore sandals laced round the leg. They considered their footgear to be a badge of rank and used to carve their sandals with elaborate designs.
Roman soldiers wore heavy hobnailed sandals as they marched across Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia.
In the marriage ceremony of the Incas, the couple was considered officially wed when they took off their sandals and handed them to each other.
The modern flip-flop descends from the Japanese zōri, which became popular after World War II when American soldiers brought them back home. They caught on in the 1950s during the postwar boom. As the flip-flop became adopted into American popular culture, they were redesigned and changed into the bright colors that are familar today.
Wearing sandals with socks is considered by many to be a faux pas. The V&A Museum in London has a 1,500-year-old pair of socks designed to be worn with sandals.
Anthropologists believe that humans have been making and wearing shoes for more than 12,000 years to protect their feet from sharp rocks. Prehistoric man protected his feet by grabbing what was handy – bark, grass, large leaves and tying them to the sole with vines. In hot countries this developed into the sandal made from woven palms, grass fibers, animal hide or a slab of flat wood. The prehistoric man attached them to his feet with "thongs".
Esparto sandals from the 6th or 5th millennium BC found in Spain. |
The oldest known sandals were discovered in Fort Rock Cave in the American state of Oregon; radiocarbon dating of the sagebrush bark from which they were woven indicates an age of at least 10,000 years.
The Ancient Egyptians wore sandals woven from plaited papyrus leaves. In time, they started designing different shoes for different purposes. For example, some of the sandals were made with upturned toes to give the wearer additional protection. These improvements upon the sandal created a need for shoemakers, and the ancient Egyptians became the first shoemakers in the world.
Egyptian leather sandals more than 3,300 years old can be in museums today.
Pair of ancient leather sandals from Egypt. Daderot |
The craftsmen of ancient Greece created artistic sandals. They were the most common type of shoes that women, who spent most of their time at home, wore.
The Greek sandals featured a multitude of straps with which they securely fastened to the foot. The top of the sandals were usually made of colored leather. The soles were crafted from cattle skin, of even better quality and made up of several layers.
The Romans wore sandals laced round the leg. They considered their footgear to be a badge of rank and used to carve their sandals with elaborate designs.
Roman soldiers wore heavy hobnailed sandals as they marched across Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia.
In the marriage ceremony of the Incas, the couple was considered officially wed when they took off their sandals and handed them to each other.
The modern flip-flop descends from the Japanese zōri, which became popular after World War II when American soldiers brought them back home. They caught on in the 1950s during the postwar boom. As the flip-flop became adopted into American popular culture, they were redesigned and changed into the bright colors that are familar today.
Wearing sandals with socks is considered by many to be a faux pas. The V&A Museum in London has a 1,500-year-old pair of socks designed to be worn with sandals.
Sandals are traditionally removed to symbolize the presence of holy ground. Because shoes tread through dust and dirt, they are symbolically dirty to Muslims; thus, they are taken off before entering holy places like mosques. This Muslim custom reflects the attitude that shoes, dirty as they are, should not desecrate holy places. This same attitude appears in the Old Testament. Both Moses before the burning bush (Exodus: 3:5) and Joshua before the “Commander of the Lord's army" (Joshua. 5:15) were instructed to remove their sandals, for they stood on "holy ground."
When he was feeling ostentatious Gandhi wore sandals, though he generally went barefoot.
The chances of getting a fungal infection on the feet, such as athlete's foot, is lower when wearing a sandal rather than an enclosed shoe, and wearing sandals may be part of treatment for a fungal foot infection.
The Statue of Liberty wears a size 879 sandal.
Sources Comptons Encyclopedia, So That's why Bible, Thomas Nelson Inc
When he was feeling ostentatious Gandhi wore sandals, though he generally went barefoot.
The chances of getting a fungal infection on the feet, such as athlete's foot, is lower when wearing a sandal rather than an enclosed shoe, and wearing sandals may be part of treatment for a fungal foot infection.
The Statue of Liberty wears a size 879 sandal.
Sources Comptons Encyclopedia, So That's why Bible, Thomas Nelson Inc
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