In Chaucer`s Canterbury Tales, the Wife of Bath immediately fell in love with her fifth husband the moment she saw his legs “ so clene and faire” as he walked behind the funeral procession of her fourth husband.
Lusting after a man`s leg was common practice in the middle Ages whilst admiring a woman`s leg was completely unheard of as, due to the dresses of the day they were rarely seen in public.
Strange but true, throughout European history until fairly recently, It was always the man who would show off his legs, not the woman.
In Ancient Greece and Rome and during the Renaissance it was always the man who wore the shorter robes.
It was only in the last century that women`s hem lines have slowly risen from the ankle and slowly revealed calf, knee and now thigh.