Sock and buskin are ancient symbols of comedy and tragedy. In ancient Greek theatre, actors in tragic roles wore a boot called a buskin (Latin cothurnus) while the actors with comedic roles wore only a thin-soled shoe called a sock (Latin soccus).^[1][2]

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  Sock
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  Buskin

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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.^[3]