Editing Anklet

{{Short description|Ornament worn around the ankle}}
{{Other uses}}
[[Image:Anklet on female feet.jpg|thumb|right|An anklet on female feet]]
[[Image:Anklet-ToeRing1.jpg|150px|thumb|right|A [[toe ring]] with attached anklet]]
An '''anklet''', also called ''ankle chain'', ''ankle bracelet'' or ''ankle string'', is an [[Jewellery|ornament]] worn around the [[ankle]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Merriam-Webster Dictionary|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anklet}}</ref> Barefoot anklets and [[toe rings]] historically have been worn for at least over 8,000 years by girls and women in [[Indus Valley]], in [[Indian Subcontinent]] where it is commonly known as ''pattilu'', ''payal, golusu'' and sometimes as ''nupur''. They have also been worn by [[Egypt]]ian women since [[predynastic]] times. In the [[United States]] both casual and more formal anklets became fashionable from the 1930s to the late–20th century. While in Western popular culture both younger men and women may wear casual [[leather]] anklets, they are popular among [[barefoot]] women. Formal anklets (of [[silver]], [[gold]], or beads) are used by some women as fashion jewellery.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}} Anklets are an important piece of jewellery in Indian [[marriages]], worn along with [[sari]]s.

Occasionally, anklets on both ankles are joined by a chain to limit the step. This practice was once prevalent in [[Southeast Asia]], where the effect was to give a "feminine" short tripping step. Today, a few Western women follow this practice, but rarely in public.  More rarely still, some people wear "permanent" (e.g., [[solder]]ed) ankle chains and even connecting chains.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

== History ==
===Egypt===
Anklets were worn as an everyday ornament by Egyptian women of all social classes in [[ancient Egypt]] from as early as [[predynastic]] times. The name for anklets was not much different from that of bracelets being ''menefret'' (''mnfrt'') except by adding a phrase to denote connection to the feet. They were made of different metals and in multiple shapes, with more expensive metals like [[gold]] being more common among the rich, while less expensive ones like [[silver]] and [[iron]] more common among lower social classes. During the fourth, fifth, and sixth dynasties, anklets were usually made of beads threaded in several rows held together with spacer-bars. Anklets were also worn by dancers like those shown in the tombs of [[Kagemni]], Ti, and Akh-hotp.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilkinson|first=Alix|title=Ancient Egyptian Jewellery|year=1971|publisher=Taylor & Francis|location=Great Britain|pages=28|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DZQOAAAAQAAJ}}</ref>

In the early–20th century, anklets were commonly worn by Egyptian women of inner cities. They were called ''kholkhal'' (pl. ''khalakheel'') and were most commonly worn by women of [[Alexandria]], along with a traditional dress covered by a one-piece black cloth called ''melaya leff''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Today, anklets are not commonly worn by Egyptian women in public due to increased Islamic conservatism that has spread in [[Egypt]] where wearing anklets in  public is generally perceived as being immodest. Anklets are still commonly worn by dancers in public events.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

===Europe===
Bronze anklets are visible as early as the [[Bronze Age]] in temperate Europe, in an area roughly along the Danube, in the Alpine foreland, up the Rhine to the Atlantic, and also down the Rhône (Sherratt, 2001). These were found among hoards in these areas, along with other bronze items characteristic of this time (c. 1800 BCE onwards), and are attributable to the [[Tumulus culture]] that spread across this region.

Periscelis ({{langx|grc|περισκελίς}}), was an anklet worn by ancient Greek and Roman women. The plebeian women wore anklets of silver, whereas the patricians of gold.<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0062:entry=periscelis-harpers Harry Thurston Peck, ''Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities'' (1898), "Periscelis"].</ref><ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0063:entry=periscelis-cn ''A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities'' (1890), "Periscelis"].</ref>

=== South Asia ===
[[Neolithic]] and [[Chalcolithic]] periods at Mehrgarh indicate use of anklets.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kenoyer |first=J.M.|title=Ornament Styles of the Indus Valley Tradition Evidence From Recent Excavations at Harappa, Pakistan |journal=Paléorient|volume=17/2}}</ref> Jhon Marshall describes dancing girl statue as being adorned with armlets, bangles, and anklets<ref>{{Cite book|title=Mohenjo-daro and the Indus Civilization|last=Marshall|first=John|publisher=[[Asian Educational Services]]|year=1931|isbn=978-8120611795|pages=339}}</ref> A first-century CE epic of [[Tamil literature]] called ''[[Silappatikaram]]'' (''The Story of the Anklet'') dealt with a woman whose husband was killed while trying to sell one of her ruby anklets to a dishonest goldsmith. The anklets are described in great detail in the poem.{{How|date=March 2025}}

[[Rajasthan]]i women wear the heaviest type of anklets, which are silver and signify tribal adherence. The women wear these as costume jewelry, but also to show their bravery as a tribe against other rival tribes. The fashion for heavy anklets is declining in India, but is still common in rural areas.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

In the eastern Indian state of [[Odisha]], which is known for its traditional jewelry, there are varieties of anklets known as Paunji Nupur, which are worn by women. Another variety, which covers the entire foot, is known as Padapadma. In ancient times men also wore anklets. Traditionally, only [[Kshatriya]] (royal/warrior caste) persons can wear gold anklets, and other castes wear silver anklets.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

The word "Payal" (payalak) and "Jhanjar" are words for the anklet in [[Hindi]] and [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]   respectively.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

In Bengali language anklet is called "nupur" and widely worn in the [[Bengal]] region – eastern Indian state of [[West Bengal]] and Republic of [[Bangladesh]].

In Eastern cultures, particularly India, anklets are worn on either or both ankles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jewelry.lovetoknow.com/Ankle_Bracelet_Etiquette |title = Ankle Bracelet Etiquette: Avoid a Fashion Faux Pas {{!}} LoveToKnow}}</ref>

===Sri Lanka===
The dancers wear anklets. Anklets are worn on both ankles.<ref>{{cite book |last=Karunaratne |first=Priyanka|date=2017 |title=Art and tradition of Sri Lanka - Vol 11: Dance of Sri Lanka |url=http://dl.lib.mrt.ac.lk/handle/123/14437 |location=Sri lanka |publisher=S. Godage & Brothers (Pvt) Ltd. }}</ref>

== As an ornament ==
[[File:Anklet കൊലുസ്, പാദസരം.JPG|thumb|right]]

Anklets can be made of [[silver]], [[gold]], and other less precious metals as well as [[leather]], [[plastic]], [[nylon]] and other such materials.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Metal anklets are of two types: "flexible" and "inflexible". Flexible anklets, often called paayal, pajeb or jhanjhar in [[India]], are made by tying links in a chain. Subsequently, sonorous [[Bell (instrument)|bells]] can be attached to the chain, so that the wearer can make pleasing sounds while walking. Inflexible anklet are usually created by shaping flat metal sheet to the ankle.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

== Bells ==
Salangai or [[Ghungroo|ghunghru]] are small bells that [[bharatnatyam|Bharatanatyam]], [[Kathak]], [[Kuchipudi]], and [[Odissi]] dancers tie around their ankles.

<gallery>
File:Nandini Ghosal.jpg|A dancer performing an Indian classical dance: [[Odissi]]
File:Ghungroo.jpg|A pair of ghungroo, a musical accessory
File:Kathak Solo Performance (32).jpg|Kathak Solo Performance
File:Ghungru.jpg|A set of Ghungru, with small bells
</gallery>

== Other anklets==
[[Scuba diver]]s sometimes wear [[Diving weighting system|lead anklets]] to stop a tendency for their legs to float up when diving in a [[drysuit]]. Convicted criminals may wear [[ankle monitor]]s as [[electronic tagging]] devices while being confined to a specific venue.

== See also ==
* [[Ankle monitor]]
* [[Bangle]]

== References ==
{{Commons category|Anklets}}
{{reflist}}

{{Jewellery}}

[[Category:Footwear accessories]]
[[Category:Types of jewellery]]
[[Category:Ankle]]