Martial, an Ancient Roman epigrammatist, had a few words to say about almost everyone he knew. A few of these choice words were reserved for his friend Marinus about Marinus’ hairstyle. Marinus was bald and let the fringes of his naked dome grow long enough that he could comb them over the top in the attempt to look like he had a full head of hair. Without the help of Aqua Net (did I just date myself?), whenever a gust of wind came up, his long tendrils of hair would return to their place--dangling on the side of his head.
Martial’s advice: “Admit your old, Marinus, and quit trying to give the appearance of two people.”
But that is the fun about writing--you get to be two people. You can be five hundred people. I love getting to try on someone’s skin, walk around and survive though the consequences of their decisions. And there is nothing like being someone else to remind you about yourself.
It's unlikely that someone would accuse Julius Caesar of being two people (to his face at least), but he also had the same problem. There are a few references that the famous consul may have been one of the originators of the comb over. He also wore his laurel wreath often--likely for the same reason my husband wears a baseball hat.
Apparently Cleopatra recommended to Caesar he try a mix of charred and ground mice, horse teeth, bear grease and deer. It is unclear if Caesar was supposed to use this combination topically or orally. Unfortunately, whatever he did with it, it didn’t work for him.
Monday
C is for Communal Sponge: Why I love toilet paper
Sources
Matz, D. Daily Life of the Ancient Romans. Greenwood Press, 2002.
Witworth, D. Even Julius Caesar struggled to hide thinness of his thatch. The Sunday Times, 2007.
8 comments:
How wonderful! Judging by your first two posts in this A-Z thing, maybe you should consider compiling all 26 into a book. Throw in some amusing pictures, and I think you'd have yourself a winner.
Susan- Thanks! Not sure I can make all 26 amusing. I guess we will see. Loved the Donaldavius Trumpus comment yesterday! That made me laugh so hard.
I agree. This would make a great book. I am hoping that tomorrow's word is not what it appears to be because that is just ewwww.
Dafeenah
Aqua Net, LOL! I knew that pink can well back in the day... oh, the ozone damage I'm probably responsible for!
Can't wait to read your C post- I get the feeling you're a germophobe like me!
I guess somethings are timeless like the comb over and making fun of those who use it.
What an interesting take on B for the Challenge. I completely enjoyed it!
Susan-Very true. Hopefully the teasing is taken as it was intended: all in good fun. Being teased is the price of being unique--I always take a little good humor like that as a compliment.
Hi Heidi .. love your take on this .. Roman baldness .. still around today! Cheers Hilary
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