medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture A quick consultance of major books of reference does not reveal any simple answer regarding the use of red shoes. Joseph Braun: Die Liturgische Gewandung (Freiburg 1907, reprint 1964) has a very clear statement: before the 12th cent. did all popes wear black sandals (Sandalia). Later (c.1290) does Durandus [Rationale divinorum officinorum] include the socks (Caligae) with the shoes, and mention that some socks could be violet (Hyacinth color). It appear to be part of a new trend to follow the liturgical colours during the year. The shoes remained black (or perhaps sometimes white). An inventory from 1295 printed by J. Braun has a long list of rich shoes and socks of silk, in various colours. Several red socks are mentioned: 'sandalia cum caligis de rubeo sameto'. To judge from this and other inventories was the red colour not symbolical, but a natural consequence of the use of rich imported luxury of all kind, like oriental embroideries with inlaid pearls. Only difference between bishops and popes seems to be the right to have a cross on the shoes. This is, however, not testified as a papal privilege before the time of pope Nicolas V. when he forbade the detronized antipope Felix V. to retain the cross on his shoes. It seems we must up into the early renaissance to find red papal shoes! Surviving pictures are here an important source. Please notice that the 7th century mosaics have been so heavily restored in later times that any details must be taken with great caution! Large areas of the mosaics are entirely new, and single pieces of glass were still tumbling down on the floor from time to time, as late as in the 1960'ies. No 3-liner entry on this subject suitable for the American market, sorry! Cheers Erik Drigsdahl At 20:20 +0200 10/04/05, Diana Wright wrote: >medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture What is the first documented use we have of the Pope wearing red shoes? DW _____________________________________________________________________ Mag.art. Erik Drigsdahl CHD Center for Haandskriftstudier i Danmark Kapelvej 25B 3.tv Phone: +45 +35 37 20 47 DK-2200 Copenhagen N Email: <[log in to unmask]> DENMARK http://www.chd.dk ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html