COTHURNUS (KoOopvo^X a boot. Its es-
sential distinction was its height ; it rose
above the middle of the leg, so as to surround
the calf, and sometimes it reached as high as
the knees. It was worn principally by horse-
men, by hunters, and by men of rank and
authority. The sole of the cothurnus was
commonly of the ordinary thickness ; but it
was sometimes made much thicker than usual,
probably by the insertion of slices of cork.
Cothiiraus. CFrom Statues of Artemw— Duma.)



The object was, to add to the apparent statnre
of the wearer ; and tJiis was done in the case
of the actors in Athenian tragedy, who had
the soles made unusually thick as one of the
methods adopted in order to magnify their
whole appearance. Hence tragedy in general
was called cothurnus. As the cothurnus was
commonly worn in hunting, it is represented
as part of the costume of Artemis (Diana).
