The ultimate symbol of Roman power in Trier was the Porta Nigra, or black gate. At nearly 100 feet, it is the largest and best preserved city gate of the ancient world. — Trier Tourismus
Posted on 10/17/2014 10:37:38 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
The ultimate symbol of Roman power in Trier was the Porta Nigra, or black gate. At nearly 100 feet, it is the largest and best preserved city gate of the ancient world. — Trier Tourismus
I’ll have a steam, a facial, a french mani-pedi, and a massage.
I’ll pass on the fermented urine though. Some other time, perhaps.
In World War II, during our invasion of Germany, the Third Army’s General George S. Patton, Jr. received a message from his superior, General Omar Bradley. It said, “Bypass Trier. It would take too many divisions to capture it.” Patton’s reply to Bradley? “Have already taken city, do you want me to give it back?”
Trier is a lovely town. Visited there a couple of time while assigned to Germany. There is a nice gasthaus on the corner across the street to the left from the Porta Negra in the photo you posted, where I stayed during both visits.
Trier is a cool place. Take the walking tour. Both Marx and Bonhoffer have childhood homes there - on the same street if I remember correctly.
:’)
Who thinks up uses for urine? And fermented urine to boot!
Boy! I can't wait for the fermented urine scrub to come back in to fashion at the local spa!
That must have been one of those inventions that happened by accident.
I can imagine, some Roman left a bedpan up on a shelf in the summer for a bit too long, then went to take it down and spilled it on themselves. Then, when they went to wash it off, they noticed what a beautiful glow their skin had :)
Indeed...one has to hold onto something for a while in order for it to ferment.
Been there many times. It’s beautiful.
They let you wander through the black gate tower.....it’s amazing when you realize Roman and medieval troops manned it.
According to one poet -- I think Catullus or Ovid -- the Spanish. They apparently also used it for laundering clothes and teeth whitening.
Betcha they'll sell it for $$$$ on QVC.
Probably depended on which diseases you had.
Eyew! :-)
Of course, Roman beauty Treatments include powdered LEAD, so who’s complaining! LOL!
There’s an anecdote about the Emperor Vespasian; his son (and eventual successor) complained about the imperial tax on urinals (at the link there’s a photo of one of Vespasian’s public urinals, which is still in use); the emperor produced a coin and asked his son to smell it. “Does it smell?” “No.” “That’s odd — it comes straight from the urinal.”
Urine was used by fullers for wool processing, among other things.
http://www.italiannotebook.com/art-archaeology/vespasian-urinals/
Since it’s near Switzerland, it’s appropriate that it’s an old watchtower. ;’)
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