Greek footwear

[sitalkes]

Hi, there's an excellent view of Thracian boots on the carving of Bendis of Eleusis receiving the ephebes from Athens eg http://home.exetel.com.au/bmboats/appearan.htm (but there are much better versions of this picture available). Also have a look at the Thracian peltast on the Attic red-figured kylix from the Harvard University Art Museum (it's on the Perseus page I think - although admittedly the description says he's a generalised barbarian, not necessarily Thracian) but particularly interesting are the boots on the peltast from the 5th Century pelike from Sozopol - the lacing is quite intricate. I think there may have been a foot soldier and a cavalry version, and maybe that lacing points towards the Iphicratids? Where do you see all these pictures plus reconstructions? Well most of my Osprey Thracian book is now available FREE from Google books. None of the images I have seen show heels or soles on the boots. Some other images that make this clear include the Thessalian cavalryman from the Louvre museum http://home.exetel.com.au/bmboats/cloaks.htm and the Metropolitan Museum of Art Thracian used as the basis for the pictures of Thracians in Warry's "Warfare in the Classical World". (I have this image on my computer but I can't seem to insert it in this message)

I have been thinking that the Iphikratid boot might be the key to explaining the Iphikratid reforms. If they were for hoplites, they would improve the grip for the feet(the hoplite had to shove hard while slipping around in gore and excreta). If they were for peltasts, they would help you to run over rough ground and run faster than if you were wearing other footwear. I have a feeling that these shoes, since they got a special name, survived long after the Iphikratid peltast. Are there any pictures of them?

Cheers
Christopher Webber