Sandals are an open type of outdoor footwear, consisting of a sole held to the wearer's foot by straps passing over the instep and, sometimes, around the ankle. While the distinction between sandals and other types of footwear can sometimes be blurry (as in the case of huaraches—the
woven leather footwear seen in Mexico—and peep-toe pumps), the common
understanding is that a sandal leaves most of the upper part of the foot exposed, particularly the toes.
People may choose to wear sandals for several reasons, among them
economy (sandals tend to require less material than shoes and are
usually easier to construct), comfort in warm weather, and as a fashion choice.
Usually, people wear sandals in warmer climates or during warmer
parts of the year in order to keep their feet cool and dry. The risk of
developing athlete's foot is lower than with enclosed shoes, and the wearing of sandals may be part of the treatment regimen for such an infection.
The word sandal derives from the Greek word sandalon. The ancient Greeks distinguished between baxeae (sing. baxea), a sandal made of willow leaves, twigs, or fibres worn by comic actors and philosophers; and the cothurnus, a boot
sandal that rose above the middle of the leg, worn principally by
tragic actors, horsemen, hunters, and by men of rank and authority. The
sole of the latter was sometimes made much thicker than usual by the
insertion of slices of cork, so as to add to the stature of the wearer.
The ancient Egyptians wore sandals made of palm-leaves and papyrus.
They are sometimes observable on the feet of Egyptian statues. According to Herodotus, sandals of papyrus were a part of the required and characteristic dress of the Egyptian priests.
