Agnes by Tony Cochran for June 16, 2017

Multi-use

Which uncle was that?

In “ancient” Rome, the upper-class women used to “paint” their faces white because it was considered a mark of beauty to appear “pale.” Unfortunately, they used lead to produce the “white”. The men, not to be outdone, ‘brewed’ their wine (which was a godawful mixture of sour wine and honey) in lead containers. And since the Romans were whizzes at mechanics but lousy at science (that was a ‘Greek" thing and therefore beneath them) they never did figure why so many of the publicans went crazy and/or died young while the plebeians and slaves lived robust, longer lives (by comparison)! The “good at mechanics/ lousy at science” aspect also had them extensively using lead pipes in their water systems, to boot! ’Modern’ Republicans might take a lesson from history in their refusal to utilize what “science” can teach (I am assuming that they are educable, which may be a reach, I know) ((sorry about the ‘snark, I couldn’t help myself!))

Careful! If you use too much snark, it’ll bleach you’re clothes out!

“And since the Romans were whizzes at mechanics but lousy at science (that was a ‘Greek” thing and therefore beneath them) they never did figure why so many of the publicans went crazy and/or died young while the plebeians and slaves lived robust, longer lives (by comparison)! The “good at mechanics/ lousy at science” aspect also had them extensively using lead pipes in their water systems, to boot!"

There was no science to tell them lead might be harmful or their Greek slaves would have mentioned it. Note the slaves were healthy despite the fact all drank water brought in through lead pipes.

The lead didn’t instantly harm them so they didn’t know any long term effects might be related. There were plenty of other environmental factors which equally might have been to blame — like rat droppings and weevils in their wheat or new diseases brought back by troops and new slaves from the far ends of the empire.

In fact, lead may have been the least of their problems. Livia Drusilla Augusta lived 81 years more or less, Helena 80, Cato the Elder 85. A life expectancy of 35 years was mostly because of high infant mortality — which nobody knew how to reduce.

“Women used white chalk or arsenic (see, that would make it safer and protect them from rats) to whiten their faces, or rouge made of lead or carmine to add color to their cheeks as well as using lead to highlight their eyes.”