A high boot or thick-soled shoe worn by actors in ancient Greek and Roman tragic drama to increase their height and dignity.
From Latin 'cothurnus,' borrowed from Greek 'kothornos,' possibly from a non-Greek language; the term became synonymous with tragedy itself.
Ancient Greek actors literally elevated themselves—the cothurn could add 8+ inches of height, making tragic heroes physically loom over the audience and creating an early form of costume magic.
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