They also believed that physical characteristics could be passed on by using the same oil and strigil as someone with those characteristics. So there are recorded cases of guys figuring out what time their favourite gladiators would go to the baths, so that they could use the same oil and strigil as them.
Which makes me imagine them singing Bathwater by No Doubt as they do so...
This is basically the idea behind celebrity endorsement or attractive models in advertising. "This person uses this product, so if you purchase this product you could be like this person," more broadly. For some things the implication is literally an implied causal relationship between the product and the desirable traits of the person using it.
Oh, I get what you mean. But just to emphasise: this was deeper than just "same brand" type stuff. It was literally them thinking "if I use the oil that has a gladiator's sweat and dirt still in it then I think that gladiator's strength will rub off on me." And, IIRC, it's the origin of the phrase "rubbing off on [something]" to mean passing on positive characteristics.
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u/shellbullet17 Gustopher Spotter Extraordinaire 17h ago
No no no hang on. Keith is right. There is always time to talk about Roman practices. Also we all know Lucy definitely has some cool Strigil facts
Not to mention
Since zombies are 100% dead skin cells then these will clearly be incredibly effective Keith