Sock and Buskin

Sock and Buskin

The sock and buskin are two ancient symbols of comedy and tragedy. In Greek theatre, actors in tragic roles wore a boot called a buskin (Latin cothurnus) that elevated them above the other actors. The actors with comedic roles only wore a thin soled shoe called a sock (Latin soccus).

Melpomene, the muse of tragedy, is often depicted holding the tragic mask and wearing buskins. Thalia, the muse of comedy, is similarly associated with the mask of comedy and comic’s socks. Some people to refer to the masks themselves as “Sock and Buskin”.

Accordingly, several theatre organizations are known by the name:

References


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  • Sock and Buskin (Brown University) — Sock and Buskin is the faculty student board that selects and produces theatrical productions at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1901 by Thomas Crosby, a professor in the university s English department, it has maintained …   Wikipedia

  • sock and buskin — archaic the theatrical profession; drama …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sock 'n' Buskin Theatre Company — Sock ‘N’ Buskin (abbreviated to S ‘n’ B) is a student run, community based theatre company, located at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. HistorySock ‘N’ Buskin was formed in 1943, one year after the formation of Carleton University itself. The …   Wikipedia

  • Sock — Sock, n. [OE. sock, AS. socc, fr. L. soccus a kind of low heeled, light shoe. Cf. {Sucket}.] 1. The shoe worn by actors of comedy in ancient Greece and Rome, used as a symbol of comedy, or of the comic drama, as distinguished from tragedy, which… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Buskin — This article is about the ancient boot. For the Roman Catholic liturgical stockings, see Episcopal sandals. Buskins A buskin is a knee or calf length boot made of leather or cloth which laces closed, but is open across the toes. It was worn by… …   Wikipedia

  • sock — I. /sɒk / (say sok) noun 1. (plural socks or sox) a short stocking reaching about halfway to the knee, or only above the ankle. 2. a light shoe worn by ancient Greek and Roman comic actors, sometimes taken as a symbol of comedy. See buskin (def.… …  

  • sock — sock1 sockless, adj. socklessness, n. /sok/, n., pl. socks or, for 1, also sox. 1. a short stocking usually reaching to the calf or just above the ankle. 2. a lightweight shoe worn by ancient Greek and Roman comic actors. 3. comic writing for the …   Universalium

  • sock — I [[t]sɒk[/t]] n. pl. socks or, for1, sometimes sox 1) clo a short stocking usu. reaching to the calf or just above the ankle 2) clo sbz a lightweight shoe worn by ancient Greek and Roman comic actors 3) cvb sbz comic writing for the theater;… …   From formal English to slang

  • sock — Synonyms and related words: ballet skirt, bang, bash, bat, beating, belt, biff, bladder, blow, bonk, bonnet, boot, breech, buskin, cap, cap and bells, chop, clap, clip, cloak, clobber, clout, clump, coat, coif, coldcock, costume, coxcomb, crack,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • buskin — /bus kin/, n. 1. a thick soled, laced boot or half boot. 2. Also called cothurnus. the high, thick soled shoe worn by ancient Greek and Roman tragedians. 3. buskins, stockings decorated with gold thread worn by a bishop at a Pontifical Mass. 4.… …   Universalium

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