The shoe, a talisman with multiple dimensions: from Antiquity to the present day
From Mercury's winged boots to Puss in Boots' thigh-highs, shoes have always been imbued with magical powers, allowing humankind to transcend its earthly condition. The image of the shoe lies at the crossroads of myth and fantasy, embodying a versatile ideal of comfort as well as freedom, of selflessness as well as power.
Remnants of eternity: the shoe, guardian of souls
From Syrian burial sites to Greek tombs, bronze and silver shoes have been discovered in necropolises throughout the Mediterranean basin, silent witnesses to an ancient belief. They accompanied the deceased on their journey to the afterlife, ensuring a safe and dignified crossing. Votive shoes from ancient Rome, meanwhile, also attested to the multidimensional symbolic value of footwear, embodying movement and travel as well as power and strength.
Lucky charms and talismans: the shoe, a source of protection
The shoe, a sacred object, was also perceived as a lucky charm. Boot-shaped vessels were used during libations, while amulets intended to ward off danger and demons often took the form of a shoe.
Declarations of love: the shoe, a symbol of promises
Later, young people would offer shoes to their beloved, symbolizing their desire to share their possessions and their lives. This peasant custom spread to 18th- century salons, where delicate porcelain shoes were exchanged. In the Victorian era, lovers gave each other miniature shoes made of leather, terracotta, alabaster, silver, or brass, while wooden snuffboxes shaped like shoes were highly prized. The shoe, also a symbol of happiness, peace, and prosperity, was central to declarations of love.
The shoe, a universal symbol
The shoe, far more than a simple accessory, is a universal symbol, laden with history and multiple meanings. It expresses our identity, our social status, our deepest aspirations, allowing humankind to escape, for the duration of a dream, its mere bipedal condition. A protective haven as much as a springboard for our movements, it is a vehicle for dreams, a talisman, the embodiment of our desires.
