Crepĭda
(
κρηπίς), also called
Crepidŭla (
Plaut. Pers. iv. 2,
3). A kind of shoe of the nature of
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Crepida. (Foot of Hermes.)
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sandals, and to be considered as occupying a middle position between a closed boot
and plain sandals. Originally it appears to have been worn by peasants, having a high and
strong sole, often studded with nails (cf.
Plin. H.
N. xxxvi. 127), sometimes fitted with leaden or brazen plates called
Χῖαι κρηπῖδες (Hippocr.
ap.
Galen, xviii. A. p. 678, ed. Kuhn); and we are told that Hagnon, one of the
followers of Alexander, had gold or silver nails in his
crepidae (Athen.
xii. 539 c). It sometimes had a low upper, with eyes (
ansae) through
which straps (
obstragula,
ἱμάντες),
which were at times adorned with jewels or dyed with purple, were passed, fastening it over
the instep; often it was closed at the back; but generally the upper consisted of a series of
large loops (also called
ansae), through
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Crepida in Pompeian Street. (Rich.)
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which the fastening thong or thongs were passed. This kind of open network covering
the instep explains the epithet
πολυσχιδές (Lucian,
Rhet. Praecept. 15). (See
Calceus.)
The name
crepida is also given to a raised sidewalk or causeway for
foot-passengers on the side of a street, as in the above illustration.