Posted on 01/05/2016 1:47:07 PM PST by SunkenCiv
An ancient dry cleaner's where ancient Romans brought their tunics to be dyed and washed is among six newly restored buildings in Pompeii to be opened to the public...
The opening of the buildings comes after years of mismanagement and bureaucratic squabbling at the historic site Spectacular brightly coloured frescoes and intricate mosaics were revealed across the walls and floors of almost all of the buildings, some of which were severely damaged by bombing during the Second World War.
But the laundry, painted in a deep red and decorated with frescoes of birds and ornamental vases, was the most highly anticipated of the restorations.
In its day, the Fullonica di Stephanus, as it is officially known, was equipped with large baths for rinsing dirty tunics and stone basis for dyeing fabrics. There was a press for ironing and the laundry kept a supply of urine, which was collected in public urinals and then used to get out tough stains.
Next to the laundry, sat Casa del Criptoportico, a former luxury home with a quadrangular garden which has also been restored. It boasts beautiful mosaics depicting pygmies and four thermal baths decorated with stucco.
An enormous covered corridor, known as a cryptoporticus, from which the house derives its name, was built with vast windows to allow light into the next-door sitting room.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
FROM MEL BROOK’s HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART 1
Comicus, unemployed comedian and looking to collect welfare...
Dole Office Clerk: Occupation?
Comicus: Stand-up philosopher.
Dole Office Clerk: What?
Comicus: Stand-up philosopher. I coalesce the vapors of
human experience into a viable and meaningful comprehension.
Dole Office Clerk: Oh, a *bullshit* artist!
Comicus: *Grumble*...
Dole Office Clerk: Did you bullshit last week?
Comicus: No.
Dole Office Clerk: Did you *try* to bullshit last week?
Comicus: Yes!
I painted MY laundry in deep red last year, and I thought I was breaking new ground! (It is beautiful.)
Losing your dry cleaning since 1 AD.
No we’re the Judean People’s Front.
The only thing we hate more than the Romans are the bleeping People’s Front of Judea.
I thought Herculaneum was a more interesting place compared to Pompeii.. lots of well preserved ruins considering what they both went thru.. definitely worth the visits..
FROM MEL BROOK’s HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART 1
Unemployed Roman Gladiator looking to receive welfare...
Dole Office Clerk: Occupation?
Gladiator - The Roman Empire: Gladiator.
Dole Office Clerk: Did you kill last week?
Gladiator - The Roman Empire: No.
Dole Office Clerk: Did you try to kill last week?
Gladiator - The Roman Empire: Yeah.
Dole Office Clerk: Now, listen, this is your last week of unemployment insurance. Either you kill somebody next week or we’re going to have to change your status, got it?
Colonial Williamsburg they discussed the wool/ urine process. Glad they didn’t reenact it. Watching them make muskets was fascinating though.
In by VIII out by V
Makes sense, I've hears the Colonists' muskets were piss poor.
Chef Boyardi!
Great thread!
:’)
“barack obama” is Roman for “public urinals”
Probably stole your money, too, just like modern ones.
So when Obama gets done with America it may take 14 centuries to return to the level we had before he arrived.
I can already smell the stale urine!
Best laugh so far this week.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.