Is it my imagination or is there not so much graffitti around as there used to be? There seems to have been more in ancient Pompei - preserved by the volcanic ash of the eruption in 79 BC. These are some of those that are listed on a website about the city.
In the gladiator barracks - On April 19th, I made bread.
Vico d’ Eumachia, small room of a possible brothel - Vibius Restitutus slept here alone and missed his darling Urbana.
Bar of Athictus; right of the door - I screwed the barmaid.
House of Caesius Valens and Herennius Nardus - Rufus loves Cornelia Hele.
Exterior of the House of Menander - Satura was here on September 3rd.
Eumachia Building, via della Abbondanza - Secundus likes to screw boys.
Above a bench outside the Marine Gate - If anyone sits here, let him read this first of all: if anyone wants a screw, he should look for Attice; she costs 4 sestertii.
In the vestibule of the House of Cuspius Pansa - The finances officer of the emperor Nero says this food is poison.
Obviously the nature of graffiti doesn't change over the millennia. However, the credibilty of the whole site came into question when I came across the one which was alleged to have been in the basilica and read - Gaius Pumidius Dipilus was here on October 3rd 78 BC. Was Gaius Pumidius Dipilus psychic? Did he anticipate the birth of Christ?
.jpg)
That's positively hilarious. All they're missing are those bubble letters they use for grafitti over here in the colonies. That, and phone numbers (For a good time call Incontinentia at 555-5555). Though I suppose that would be more foresight than even the Pompeiians had.
ReplyDelete