The Probert Encyclopaedia of Costume

COTHURNUS

A cothurnus was a boot or buskin worn by the ancient Greek and Roman actors in tragedies. It reached half way up the leg, sometimes almost to the knees, and had a very thick sole for the purpose of increasing the apparent stature of the performer. The actors in comedies wore a thin slipper called soccus, and hence cothurnus and soccus were employed figuratively to denote tragedy and comedy respectively.
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