In its day, the Fullonica di Stephanus, as it is officially known, was equipped with large baths for rinsing dirty tunics and stone basis for dyeing fabrics Photo: Michele Stallo
Posted on 01/05/2016 1:47:07 PM PST by SunkenCiv
An ancient dry cleaner's where ancient Romans brought their tunics to be dyed and washed is among six newly restored buildings in Pompeii to be opened to the public...
The opening of the buildings comes after years of mismanagement and bureaucratic squabbling at the historic site Spectacular brightly coloured frescoes and intricate mosaics were revealed across the walls and floors of almost all of the buildings, some of which were severely damaged by bombing during the Second World War.
But the laundry, painted in a deep red and decorated with frescoes of birds and ornamental vases, was the most highly anticipated of the restorations.
In its day, the Fullonica di Stephanus, as it is officially known, was equipped with large baths for rinsing dirty tunics and stone basis for dyeing fabrics. There was a press for ironing and the laundry kept a supply of urine, which was collected in public urinals and then used to get out tough stains.
Next to the laundry, sat Casa del Criptoportico, a former luxury home with a quadrangular garden which has also been restored. It boasts beautiful mosaics depicting pygmies and four thermal baths decorated with stucco.
An enormous covered corridor, known as a cryptoporticus, from which the house derives its name, was built with vast windows to allow light into the next-door sitting room.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
In its day, the Fullonica di Stephanus, as it is officially known, was equipped with large baths for rinsing dirty tunics and stone basis for dyeing fabrics Photo: Michele Stallo
Toga! Toga! Toga!!
Once Rome fell the West would not reach that level of Roman urban infrastructure for 14 centuries.
That’s great!
I did wonder the following:
Did they have oxen driven turnstiles which had hundreds of togas hanging from them? A little crack of the whip and they would begin moving...
Did they have to tell people if they didn’t pick it up in a fortnight, that their togas would be sold off without notice?
They knew how to build airy spaces then.. but global varming got them in the end. jaaa. the Earth had a fever and a volcano popped.. same for Thera and Santorini.. just one day.. kaaaboooom!
Titus complained of the tax which Vespasian had imposed on the contents of the City urinals (used by the fullers to clean woollens). Vespasian handed him a coin which had been part of the first day's proceeds: 'Does it smell bad, my son?' he asked. 'No, Father!' 'That's odd: it comes straight from the urinal! [The Twelve Caesars by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, Translated by Robert Graves]Thanks NYer for the link!
And I complain about my job.
;’)
“Other than that, what have the Romans EVER done for us?”
Kramer: Yeah, but maybe he was so mad from the penalty stroke that he murdered the dry cleaner.
Jerry: Well, generally speaking you don’t need any extra incentive to murder a dry cleaner. I wouldn’t worry about that.
They never lacked for urine, probably all the wine they drank.
I saw one of those re-enactment shows about life in the Medieval Era. The host was preparing wool with urine, by stomping his feet on the wool in a bucket of urine, and he was overwhelmed by the ammonia smell from the urine.
Further research revealed that it was owned by Georgeius Jeffersonus, who operated his business at six convenient locations throughout Rome.
Your laundry will be ready Tuesday...............
When the city was buried in ash, the wife of the dry cleaner died wearing someone else’s elegant toga. Figures.
Georgeius moves on up from the working class Herculaneum to posh Pompeii.
Someone should look around for the pile of ostraca they must have used for pickup tickets.
What did they do in Cesar’s Palace? :)
Now, they need to interview the 2,000-year-old man...
The People’s Front of Judea.
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