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[26] soleam: there is no indication in ancient monuments or writers that the shoes were nailed on, though mules used as draught-animals, or on journeys, are several times mentioned as shod. Probably the metal sole (which in cases of great display was of silver, or even of gold; cf. Suet. Nero 30soleis mularum argenteis” ; Plin. NH 33.140Poppaea, coniunx Neronis principis, soleas delicatioribus iumentis suis ex auro quoqe induere iussit” ) was attached to a sort of sock of leather or woven fibre, which was in turn fastened by thongs about the fetlock. Such a shoe might readily be lost in strongly adhesive mud.


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