Sandals are an open type of footwear, consisting of a sole held to the foot of the person by straps that go over the instep and, sometimes, around the ankle. Sandals can also have a heel. People may choose to wear sandals for a number of reasons, including warm- weather comfort, economy (sandals tend to require less material than shoes and are generally easier to construct), and as a fashion choice.
Generally, people wear sandals in warmer climates or during the warmer parts of the year in order to keep their feet cool and dry. The risk of developing athlete's foot is lower than with closed shoes, and the use of sandals can be part of the treatment regimen for such an infection.
The oldest known sandals (and the oldest known footwear of any type) were discovered in Fort Rock Cave in the US state of Oregon; Radiocarbon dating of the sagebrush crust from which they were woven indicates an age of at least 10,000 years.
The word sandal is of Greek origin. The ancient Greeks distinguished between baxeae (sing baxea), a sandal made from willow leaves, twigs, or fibers worn by comedians and philosophers; And the cothurnus, a boot sandal that rose over the middle of the leg, worn mainly by tragic actors, horsemen, hunters, and by men of hierarchy and authority. The sole of the latter was sometimes made much thicker than usual by the insertion of slices of cork, in order to add to the stature of the wearer.
The ancient Egyptians wore sandals made from palm leaves and papyrus. They are sometimes seen on the feet of Egyptian statues and in reliefs, being carried by the wearers of sandals. According to Herodotus, papyrus sandals were part of the required and characteristic dress of Egyptian priests.
In ancient Greece, sandals were the most common type of shoe that women wore and spent most of their time at home. The Greek sandals featured a multitude of straps with which they were firmly attached to the foot. The tops of the sandals were generally made of colored leather. The soles were made of higher quality cattle hide and composed of several layers. In ancient Rome, residents used to carve their boots and sandals with elaborate designs.
