This hooked metal tool was called a “strigil” by Ancient Romans. Centuries ago, such instruments were used in the process of bathing: you would scrape dirt, sweat, and the ubiquitous Mediterranean olive oil off your skin with it before your bath.
The cities of the Ancient Roman Empire harbored a density of populations that humans hadn’t naturally developed to accommodate. However, urban planners evolved sophisticated strategies…
This week’s posts examine attitudes towards death in ancient and Medieval cultures. This engraving of “King Solomon in Old Age,” reflects the most famous Jewish…
