Philosophy, ancient buildings and mythology are the first things that come to mind when someone mentions Ancient Greece. But not all residents of the country were engaged only in abstract issues. Everyday things that were normal for the ancient Greeks can seem crazy to you, and even make you blush. Here are some mind-boggling facts about the ancient Greeks that you probably don't know.
1. Doctors tasted the earwax of patients to get an idea of the disease
Although the underlying symptoms were often sufficient to make a diagnosis, it was common practice to sample the patient's earwax. Doctors believed that each biological fluid has its own taste, and changes in it may indicate a disease. So the doctor put his finger on the patient's ear and tried the earwax. Let's not imagine what we could do with other fluids of the human body.
2. Sportsmen sweat mixture was used to relieve muscle tension
Before training, athletes applied olive oil to the body, which was then scraped off the body along with sweat and dust with special metal scrapers. The resulting mixture was bottled and sold for medicinal purposes, such as relieving muscle tension. Surprisingly, the "medicine" flew off the shelves of pharmacies.
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3. Mud to improve women's health
The ancient Greeks believed that women were overly susceptible to dirt, so disgusting methods were used to rid them of disease. For example, after a miscarriage, a woman had to drink a mixture of wine and fried mule feces. It is interesting to note that men were not treated with such drugs.
4. Sneezing as a contraceptive
The inhabitants of Ancient Greece believed that to prevent pregnancy, a woman just needed … sneeze after intercourse. As you might have guessed, this method could not be effective. Another method of contraception was a paste of pine resin and honey, which should be rubbed into the genitals. However, this procedure also did not help prevent unwanted pregnancies.
5. Stones and sponges instead of toilet paper
The ancient Greeks didn't use toilet paper simply because it didn't exist yet. Instead, they used round stones or ceramic fragments. Rich people had a better choice: they could use a sponge attached to a stick.
6. During the funeral, the bodies were laid in the graves with stones so that the dead could not rise from the graves
In some of the graves of the ancient Greeks, archaeologists have found stones on the hands, feet and heads, the purpose of which is to keep the dead in their graves. Despite the fact that the ancient Greeks were famous for rational thinking, they had their own prejudices and superstitions. Fear of zombies forced them to crush the dead with stones so that they could not get up from their graves.
7. Men with small genitals were considered the most attractive
Ancient Greece had special standards for male beauty. Have you ever noticed that in all the temple frescoes and vase paintings, heroes, gods and athletes are depicted as strong and slender men, but with small genitals? On the other hand, satyrs were portrayed as savages or ugly old people, but with impressive genitals. This is because large male genitals were considered vulgar and unattractive.
8. Athletes had to train naked
In the Greek gymnasiums, the students did not have a uniform uniform, and they had to do all the exercises naked. Pupils who were ashamed of their nakedness were severely reprimanded, as such thinking was considered barbaric.
9. You could confess your love to a girl just by throwing an apple to her
Modern men quite simply express their feelings for a woman: with the help of flowers or sweets. But the ancient Greeks were even more straightforward: they threw an apple to the girl they liked. This strange act could also be a marriage proposal.
10. The brows on the bridge of the nose were a symbol of female sexuality
If a woman in Ancient Greece wanted an apple from a man, she had to at least follow fashion trends. One of the trends was eyebrows fused on the bridge of the nose. In ancient Greece, such a woman was considered very attractive, and her eyebrows were the envy of her friends. If the girl was unlucky, and she naturally had thin eyebrows, they should have been painted or glued on with a piece of animal hair.
Anna Pismenna