Tragedic actors in Greek theater wore thick-soled boots called buskins to portray serious roles, while comedic actors wore thin-soled shoes called socks. The muses of tragedy and comedy, Melpomene and Thalia, are depicted wearing the masks and footwear associated with their domains. Costumes in Greek theater were colorful and elaborate to be visible to all audience members.

1. SOCK AND BUSKIN
*Comedy and Drama Masks*

2. 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).
The actors with comedic roles only wore a thin soled shoe called a
sock (Latin soccus).

3. First representation of Comedy and tragedy masks

5. 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
refer to the masks themselves as "Sock and Buskin."

6. Actors playing Goddesses and women
characters that held a lot of power wore
purples and golds. Actors playing Queens
and Princesses wore long cloaks that
dragged on the ground and were decorated
with gold stars and other jewels, and
warriors were dressed in a variety of armor
and wore helmets adorned with plumes.
Costumes were supposed to be colourful
and obvious to be easily seen by every seat
in the audience.

7. The Theater in Ancient Greece