10 Roman Jobs That Are Weirdly Similar to Ours
You think your job is weird? Just wait until you hear about these bizarre ancient Roman professions that are eerily similar to some modern-day careers.
From hairstylists and plumbers to bankers and postal workers, the Romans had a wild assortment of gigs that will make you do a double take. Heck, they even had sex workers and IRS-style tax collectors that nobody wanted to deal with!
Prepare to be amazed (and a little grossed out) as we dive into 7 weird jobs from the ancient world that prove the more things change, the more they really do stay the same. Let's go!
10. Plumbarii: The OGs of Plumbing
While we looked at the sewer workers earlier, the plumbarii were the ones actually constructing all those lead pipes and plumbing systems that kept Roman bathhouses and aqueducts flowing. The original plumbers of the ancient world!
9. Navicularii: Ancient Shipping Magnates
As a major maritime trading power, Rome needed navicularii - shipowners and merchants to move all those goods across the seas. The OG importers and exporters making bank on the transport of everything from wines to marble.
8. Tibicines: Rome's Musicians
Before DJs and rock stars, there were tibicines providing the tunes at parties and events across ancient Rome. These woodwind wizards played the tibia - an instrument that gave our modern flute and oboe a run for their money!
7. Publicani: The Dreaded Tax Collectors
Everybody loves tax season, right? Well, spare a thought for the publicani - Roman contractors hired to collect taxes, often through somewhat...unscrupulous methods. The ancient IRS agents nobody wanted a visit from!
6. Lupanar Workers: Legalized Sex Work
Yup, even ancient Rome had brothels called lupanars, fully decked out with working men and women. Not so different from today's legal sex trade!
5. Scribae: Rome's Scribes
In a world before keyboards and Microsoft Word, there were scribes meticulously recording everything by hand. The ancient Roman version of admin assistants or clerks whose handwriting had to be on point.
4. Cursus Publicus Officials: Ancient Postal Workers
Before email and texting, there were cursus publicus officials running the state courier and postal service. Essentially ancient mailmen dealing with rollos instead of rolling cases!
3. Argentarii: Rome's Bankers
Haven't we all felt the pain of dealing with banks and their obscene fees? Well, meet the argentarii - ancient Roman bankers and money changers who definitely knew how to make a sestertius or two.
2. Cloaca Maxima Workers: OG Plumbers
Dealing with blocked drains and overflowing toilets is bad enough today. Now imagine being a Cloaca Maxima worker - the ancient Roman equivalent of a plumber, responsible for maintaining the city's massive (and incredibly gross) sewer system. No thanks!
1. Ornatrix: Insta-Ready Hairstylists
In ancient Rome, wealthy women didn't just roll out of bed with perfect hair. They had dedicated hair stylists called ornatrices to keep those elaborate updos on point. Talk about high maintenance!
There you have it - 10 weird jobs from ancient Roman times that are oddly relatable, even after two thousand years. From hairdressers and musicians to tax collectors and shipping tycoons, some things never change! What other crazy roles would you never want to take on in the Roman Empire?