Women working out–sometimes I think we believe the concept was invented in modern times. It’s true that my mother wouldn’t have even considered it. Nor my grandmother.
So I had to smile when I saw these ancient mosaics at the Villa del Casale at Piazza Amerina in Sicily:
Dumbbells have a long history
Dumbbells haven’t changed a bit since the fourth century AD, have they? And women worked out even back then. I mean, who knew? That’s right, Fourth century AD.
How about the medicine ball?
These girls obviously did love to frolic as they worked out and what’s more, they don’t seem at all bothered by the size of their thighs.
And how about those bikinis? We thought they were a 20th century invention, but not so at all. Looking at this scene, my first thought was “Girls just wanna have fun!”
By the way, these mosaics and others even more impressive –some 3,500 square meters of them–were found surprisingly intact at the Villa, which is one of the best preserved villas anywhere in the Roman Empire. And we should know–we spent about three hours exploring them. It’s believed the mosaics were the work of North African craftsmen.
The villa’s owner? Wait for it…. a politician.
That is so cool! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Barbara recently posted…Nightowls, Revisiting Spring, and other Sweet!s
Who knew, right?
Oh wow this was insightful. Yep girls just wanna have fun.
These do look like fun girls!
Carol, I had no clue there were mosaics that showed women exercising! Way fun! I’d love to use this as a guest post on Friend for the Ride. No pressure, only if you’d like to share.
Yes!
I think their thighs look pretty good. Hard to believe that the 4th century had dumbbells, though!
Walker Thornton recently posted…Q&A: How Soon to Have Sex When Dating
That was a big surprise to me, too.
I had no idea. Thank you so much!
Doreen McGettigan recently posted…Writing Wednesday/ Lets Get Credible
Beautiful! And a few of those women have bellies!
Laura recently posted…#ThrowbackThursday That Day I Was Unrecognizable
I am so tired of our modern obsession with bodily perfection. I love those girls!
Did you see any Signs or Remains of the ancient Moors…..The ancestors of the ceciiann Beautiful black Hair…….(History is Great)
Not specifically, but there is a long history of Moors.
What a cool find. Interesting to think about how women saw themselves within a culture so far removed from what we know. I love this stuff! Thanks for sharing.
Ruth Curran recently posted…Guest Post by Nancy Hill: Perspective Framing & Crunches for Your Cranium
I would love to know more about how women saw themselves back then.
Such a fun post Carol. Exercise and bikinis way back then…I had no idea!
nancy@skinnykitchen.com recently posted…My Top 10 Skinny Recipes of 2013
Me either!
And we think we’re so smart, here in the 21st century! Great pictures, Carol.
Karen recently posted…Ottawa shooting: Shock and dismay
“There’s nothing new under the sun,” right? LOL
This post is so up my happy, active alley! Love it and the pics you took. Isn’t it amazing how “modern” they look?
Kymberly recently posted…Coffee Brownies
I know! They could be at my gym.
Love these murals (you know I would!). And Kymberly is right, they look really contemporary. They would be an awesome addition to any women’s gym, don’t you think?
kim tackett recently posted…four days a week :: adjusting to the time change
Oh they would be. If you could afford it! They are priceless antiquities and I’ll bet all rights are reserved!
I love this, Carol. I had no idea, and they are in much better shape than I am.
I guess Brian Wilson really wrote his songs for all of them instead of the California girls!! 🙂
Cathy Chester recently posted…Can You Feel Better On A Gluten-Free Diet? Take Notes Jennifer Lawrence
Well, Cindy Lauper wrote Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, but these COULD be California girls!
Amazing! Several of those pictures could have depicted the modern day. I mean – boy shorts? Those girls were stylin!
Diane recently posted…Aunt Emily
I thought the same thing.
I’ve seen pictures of these before and was just as inspired! So jealous that you got to see them in person. Did you take a class? Hahaaaaa.
Cheryl Nicholl recently posted…Who Are Your People?
Haa is right!
Genius Women! I especially like the one with the tara on her head!
Rosie Battista recently posted…What is it Wednesday 5: That’s Peachy.
That’s amazing! If you think back through all the history between dresses and women’s rights who would have thought that women from that long ago would be closer to how we are now than other periods even as close as our own parents!
Rena McDaniel-The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver recently posted…WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S IN GREENVILLE, SC
Amazing! But where are the water bottles?
Elaine Ambrose recently posted…If My Mother Died Today
Those are so great! Yes, girls do wanna have fun. Always have, always will.
Lisa @ Grandma’s Briefs recently posted…A hauntingly good Halloween roundup
Ha! Who knew! This is great. You just made my day. (Now where are my barbells?)
😉
D. A. Wolf recently posted…Love Quiz
maybe they ran out of mosaics….
LOVE it!!! The dumbbells are way to light, though… They didn’t understand the research back then (obviously…) but the problem is that women still (to this day) are using weights that are too light. As far as them having fun while being physically active is AWESOME!
Kim recently posted…A Lesson for All of Us Who are Living
I suspect they got plenty of exercise in every day life. Then again, maybe not.
This just blows my mind. And almost makes me believe in time travel. It’s as if somebody from the 21st century went back in time and started a 4th century health spa.
It’s most likely the other way around–that there is nothing actually new in the world.
How ’bout that!
Angela Weight recently posted…Do you suffer from Escalophobia, Genophobia or Mycophobia? I fear for you.
This is so funny to think about. I noticed many similarities on my recent visit to Pompei, Italy.
WendysHat recently posted…Halloween Banana Ghosts
Wow! When we visited Greece back in the 90’s and went all over the islands and mainland I don’t ever remember seeing women athletes! It was all about the men. Shows that your ancestral relatives were much more progressive!
Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com recently posted…The Power, Mystery & Variety Of Prayer
Who knew is right! Unexpected discovery for sure in ancient ruins! Love how you captured the details and presented this in a fun way!