p1048 Soccus

Article by James Yates, M.A., F.R.S.,
on pp1048‑1049 of

William Smith, D.C.L., LL.D.:
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875.

SOCCUS, dim. SOʹCCULUS, was nearly if not altogether equivalent in meaning to Crepida, and denoted a slipper or low shoe, which did not fit closely, and was not fastened by any tie (Isid. Orig. XIX.34).º Shoes of this description were worn, more especially among the Greeks together with the Pallium, both by men and by women. But those appropriated to the female sex were finer and more ornamented (Plin. H. N. IX.35 s56; Soccus muliebris, Suet. Calig. 52, Vitell. 2), although those worn by men were likewise in some instances richly adorned according to the taste and means of the wearer (Plaut. Bacch. II.3.98).

p1049 For the reasons mentioned under the articles Baxa and Crepida the Soccus was worn by comic actors (Hor. Ars Poët. 80, 90), and was in this respect opposed to the Cothurnus (Mart. VIII.3.13; Plin. Epist. IX.7). The preceding woodcut is taken from an ancient painting of a buffoon [Mimus], who is dancing in loose yellow slippers (luteum soccum, Catull. Epithal. Jul. 10). This was one of their most common colours (De L'Aulnaye, Salt. Théat. pl. IV). [Solea.]

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