this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2024
339 points (94.3% liked)

A sub for Historymemes

1221 readers
1 users here now

A place for history memes.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] [email protected] 66 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[โ€“] [email protected] 37 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Unwashed savages!

Funny enough, Europeans of the 15th and 16th centuries were more likely to be unwashed than their medieval predecessors. Bath-houses had acquired something of a seedy reputation, a medical fad that suggested bathing was unhealthy was in vogue, and it was seen as a mark of humility (very Christian and virtuous!) to go long periods without such vanity as washing oneself. In the medieval period, at least, you'd have even rural people rinsing in the river on the regular!

[โ€“] [email protected] 35 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Antibathers? They had medical antibathers?

Oh shit oh fuck don't tell the antivaxers, imagine having coworkers who refuse to vaccinate and never bathe...

[โ€“] [email protected] 19 points 2 months ago

This but even more often

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

What was that theory called again?

[โ€“] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

Miasma theory. The thinking was, at least partially, that bathing opened up your pores, through which 'bad air' (miasma) could seep in. Funny enough, miasma theory after and before this period was used primarily to support bathing. Goes to show people can twist anything to their purposes.