Yes, he’s a monkey. But at least he won’t grow up to write awful graffiti.
As we get ready to say goodbye to another year (and I don’t know about you, but though I’m not triskaidekaphobic, I’m about ready to bid 2013 goodbye) it is important to remember that the world has been going downhill for a looooong time.
If you need proof, here are some colorful phrases from Roman graffiti (with to a link to others, less safe for work.)
Among my favorites:
4. “Oppi, emboliari, fur, furuncle.”
“Oppius, you’re a clown, a thief, and a cheap crook.”
A clarivoyant graffiti writer would have added “And two thousand years from now, in a land yet to be discovered, you could become immensely wealthy by taking public office.”
5. “Miximus in lecto. Faetor, peccavimus, hospes. Si dices: quare? Nulla matella fuit.”
“We have wet the bed. I admit, we were wrong, my host. If you ask ‘why?’ There was no chamber pot.” Found inside an inn.
9. “Vatuan aediles furunculi rog.”
“The petty thieves request the election of Vatia as adele.” In ancient Pompeii, an “adele” was an elected official who supervised markets and local police, among other things.
Well, okay, so they would have understood American politics — at least in Chicago.
10. “Suspirium puellam Celadus thraex.”
“Celadus makes the girls moan.”
And you should totally believe him, because he’s not self-interested at all in posting this publicity!
So, as the new year approaches, take heart. The world is not going to heck any faster than it was in ancient Rome, and there’s hope for humanity yet. I mean, look on the bright side — in most of the civilized world you don’t need chamberpots in hotel rooms!
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