The toes of the caryatid statues found inside the ancient tomb of Amphipolis are “sculpted in great detail”, according to the Greek Ministry of Culture, with the statues’ platform shoes still bearing traces of red and yellow decorations. A number of archaeologists studying the morphology of the statues’ toes believe that the foot type is revealing as to the national ancestry of the graceful statues because they clearly have “Greek feet”.

The “Greek foot” is one where the second toe is longer than the big toe in a condition known as “Morton’s toe”. The third toe is small and plump. Here’s a diagram from kuvatON.com that gives more details regarding toes and ancestry.

The “Greek foot” was apparently a matter of great importance in antiquity and artists at the time were greatly inspired from it. The toed inspiration was also passed on to the Romans and the “Greek toes” can even be found on the feet of the Statue of Liberty.

Here’s more about the Greek foot in history –