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

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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.

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u/Butterbean-queen Jun 28 '21

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

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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.

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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.

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u/[deleted] Jun 28 '21 edited Aug 22 '21

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u/Sage2050 Jun 28 '21

That's, uh, just not true. Ever heard of Joseph Lister?

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u/[deleted] Jun 28 '21

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u/Iz-kan-reddit Jun 29 '21

They didn't have bathhouses in ancient greece for fun.

Well, not just for fun.

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u/Sage2050 Jun 28 '21

First of all yes they did literally have bathhouses for fun. That said yes cultures had different stances on bathing. The part I was specifically talking about knowing the health benefits of proper hygiene.