sock and buskin

{{Short description|Ancient symbols of comedy and tragedy}}

{{for|the Canadian university theatre troupe|Sock 'n' Buskin Theatre Company}}

{{redirect|Thalia and Melpomene|the masks associated with those figures|Comedy and tragedy masks}}

{{more citations needed|date=February 2024}}

Sock and buskin are ancient symbols of comedy and tragedy. In ancient Greek theatre, actors in tragic roles wore a boot called a buskin (Latin cothurnus) while the actors with comedic roles wore only a thin-soled shoe called a sock (Latin soccus).{{Cite web |title=Mask (Sock and Buskin / Comedy and Tragedy) |url=https://symbolsproject.eu/explore/human/profession/civil/mask-sock-and-buskin-/-comedy-and-tragedy.aspx |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=symbolsproject.eu |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027190109/https://symbolsproject.eu/explore/human/profession/civil/mask-sock-and-buskin-/-comedy-and-tragedy.aspx |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=CentreCyclopedia - Sock and Buskin |url=https://sc.centre.edu/ency/s/sockbuskin.html |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=sc.centre.edu}}

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|File:Soccus - comic actor in slip-on shoes - Image from page 1067 of "A dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities.." (1849) (cropped).jpg

|Sock

|Image:Buskin (PSF).jpg

|Buskin

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The sock and buskin, like the comedy and tragedy masks, are associated with two Greek Muses, Melpomene and Thalia. Melpomene, the Muse of tragedy, is often depicted wearing buskins and holding the mask of tragedy, while Thalia, the Muse of comedy, is often depicted wearing the comic's socks and holding the mask of comedy.{{Cite web |last=Council |first=Stevenage Borough |title=Introducing Sock and Buskin |url=https://www.stevenage.gov.uk/stevenage-museum/blog/introducing-sock-and-buskin |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=www.stevenage.gov.uk |language=English}}