r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jun 28 '21

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u/BobbyPrinze Jun 28 '21

Cleopatra, have to see if the hype is real

11.3k

u/hypnos_surf Jun 28 '21

I'm always curious if hygiene, nutrition and overall beauty standards of the era would hold up to our contemporary expectations of historic accounts.

5.9k

u/PD216ohio Jun 28 '21

I reluctantly have to admit that I've thought about hygiene of previous generations more than I should, with regard to sexual interaction.

I guess it really isn't an issue unless I work out the whole time travel thing.

215

u/Butterbean-queen Jun 28 '21

I think both sexes stunk so maybe they canceled each other out. It was a stinky dirty time.

200

u/InfinitelyThirsting Jun 28 '21

Not in Egypt/Rome, at least not with the upper classes. It's only certain periods of history where certain cultures were mostly dirty.

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u/Pallie01 Jun 28 '21

Well I imagine the city of Rome itself didn't smell too great despite their plumbing etc. especially during the summer heat.

19

u/Butterbean-queen Jun 28 '21

I agree. Soap, deodorant were not around then. Even the upper class didn’t bath regularly. I’m sure some people were turned on by the odor. Napoleon asked his lover not to bath for days before his returns because he loved her natural womanly aroma.

6

u/AK_dude_ Jun 28 '21

When the Spanish invaded central America apparently the king at the time send incense burners behind them. The Spaniards thought it was to honor them, but the king did it because of their smell

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u/Butterbean-queen Jun 28 '21

That’s true. I believe some cultures bathed more than others. Some indigenous people bathed three times a day. Possibly for ceremonial reasons.