11 Bizarre Facts About the Romans Almost No One Knows
While the ancient Roman civilization was highly advanced for its time, they engaged in some shockingly bizarre practices and beliefs that seem utterly bizarre and disgusting by modern standards. What could be so strange about this great empire that it would make your stomach turn? Number 2 is truly unbelievable. Let's get into it.
13. Public toilets were essentially communal troughs
Even the wealthy Romans had to deal with fairly primitive toilet setups. Public latrines featured a shared trough or channel where people would sit side-by-side, doing their business into the same long trench. Not very private!
12. Some houses had built-in bedroom pots
In fact, the lack of modern plumbing meant even wealthy families often had a chamber pot built right into the bedroom for nighttime toilet needs. Hopefully it had a lid!
11. Romans used urine to whiten their teeth and clean their clothes
You read that right! The ancient Romans had some seriously strange hygiene practices. They used stale urine (the ammonia in it) to whiten their teeth and clean their clothes. Gross, right? Hey, at least their teeth were sparkling white!
10. Wealthy Romans wore hairpieces made from blonde German hair
Blonde hair was all the rage in ancient Rome. But instead of hitting the salon for highlights, wealthy Romans just bought wigs and hairpieces made from the long blonde locks of Germanic peoples. Talk about cultural appropriation!
9. Romans used human urine to tan leather
The Romans were masters at recycling bodily fluids. Not only did they use urine for cleaning, but they also employed it to tan leather for shoes, clothes and other goods. Hey, if it's not broke, don't fix it?
8. They had some wild cosmetic products
Looking good wasn't easy in ancient times. The Roman upper class used some crazy concoctions as makeup and beauty products. We're not entirely sure, but there is some evidence to suggest they used:
- Crushed ant eggs as rouge
- Mouse brains as a hair removal cream
- Pigeon poop as a skin toner
Yuck! Makes you appreciate modern-day Sephora.
7. Ancient Rome had a special poop sponge that public toilets used instead of toilet paper
Every public bathroom in Rome had a long stick with a vinegar-soaked sponge on the end called a xylospongium. Patrons would use that communal sponge to, uh, wipe after doing their business. Yes, everyone shared the same abrasive sponge! Please enjoy never being able to un-learn that fact.
6. Wealthy Romans wore lead powder makeup, unknowingly poisoning themselves
Heavy makeup was in vogue for wealthy Roman women and men. Literally - they used a powdered lead called ceruse as face powder and foundation. Sadly, they didn't realize it was extremely toxic and led to things like hair loss, infertility and death. Beauty is pain?
5. There were professional food tasters to prevent poisonings
Wealthy Romans were so paranoid about being poisoned that they hired praegustatores - professional food tasters. These poor servants had to sample every dish before it was served to make sure it wasn't laced with something deadly. What a terrible way to diet!
4. Gladiator sweat was used as a cure-all tonic
Attendance at gladiator fights wasn't just for entertainment - people would collect the sweat-soaked rags and bandages used by the fighters. This "gladiator sweat" was then mixed into a tonic that was believed to cure all kinds of ailments and give drinkers super-human strength.
3. Some Olympics participants competed nude
While we think of the Olympics as a prestigious competition today, the Ancient Greek origins of the games featured some rather bizarre traditions. Wrestlers, runners and other athletes often performed their events completely in the nude as a nod to the Greek appreciation of the human form.
2. Rich Romans dyed their hair with pigeon poop
Speaking of gross beauty treatments, urine wasn't the only bodily fluid used by Romans. Wealthy men and women would dye their hair red or blonde using a mixture of pigeon droppings and human urine. The ammonia helped bleach and tint the hair pigment. We'll pass, thanks!
1. People used pessary devices as birth control
While not as effective as modern contraceptives, ancient Romans did attempt some primitive form of birth control. Women would insert pessaries - objects made of wool, animal products or plants - into the vagina in hopes of blocking sperm. Better than nothing?