Carol Cassara

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Fourth century girls just wanna have fun

October 23, 2014 By Carol Cassara 43 Comments

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:

exergirls wts

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.

exergirls ballHow about the medicine ball?

exergirls3These 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.

exergirls mayAnd 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.

Filed Under: Blog, Trippin' Tagged With: Blog, Exercise, Sicily

Comments

  1. Barbara says

    October 23, 2014 at 1:04 am

    That is so cool! Thanks for sharing this with us!
    Barbara recently posted…Nightowls, Revisiting Spring, and other Sweet!sMy Profile

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 6:24 am

      Who knew, right?

      Reply
  2. Suzy says

    October 23, 2014 at 6:35 am

    Oh wow this was insightful. Yep girls just wanna have fun.

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 8:43 am

      These do look like fun girls!

      Reply
  3. Barbara Younger says

    October 23, 2014 at 7:35 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 8:43 am

      Yes!

      Reply
  4. Walker Thornton says

    October 23, 2014 at 7:40 am

    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 DatingMy Profile

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 8:43 am

      That was a big surprise to me, too.

      Reply
  5. Doreen McGettigan says

    October 23, 2014 at 7:41 am

    I had no idea. Thank you so much!
    Doreen McGettigan recently posted…Writing Wednesday/ Lets Get CredibleMy Profile

    Reply
  6. Laura says

    October 23, 2014 at 8:39 am

    Beautiful! And a few of those women have bellies!
    Laura recently posted…#ThrowbackThursday That Day I Was UnrecognizableMy Profile

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 8:44 am

      I am so tired of our modern obsession with bodily perfection. I love those girls!

      Reply
  7. T ray says

    October 23, 2014 at 8:46 am

    Did you see any Signs or Remains of the ancient Moors…..The ancestors of the ceciiann Beautiful black Hair…….(History is Great)

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 9:17 am

      Not specifically, but there is a long history of Moors.

      Reply
  8. Ruth Curran says

    October 23, 2014 at 9:49 am

    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 CraniumMy Profile

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 12:08 pm

      I would love to know more about how women saw themselves back then.

      Reply
  9. nancy@skinnykitchen.com says

    October 23, 2014 at 10:01 am

    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 2013My Profile

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 12:07 pm

      Me either!

      Reply
  10. Karen says

    October 23, 2014 at 10:19 am

    And we think we’re so smart, here in the 21st century! Great pictures, Carol.
    Karen recently posted…Ottawa shooting: Shock and dismayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 12:07 pm

      “There’s nothing new under the sun,” right? LOL

      Reply
  11. Kymberly says

    October 23, 2014 at 10:32 am

    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 BrowniesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 12:07 pm

      I know! They could be at my gym.

      Reply
  12. kim tackett says

    October 23, 2014 at 11:43 am

    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 changeMy Profile

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 12:06 pm

      Oh they would be. If you could afford it! They are priceless antiquities and I’ll bet all rights are reserved!

      Reply
  13. Cathy Chester says

    October 23, 2014 at 12:14 pm

    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 LawrenceMy Profile

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 12:47 pm

      Well, Cindy Lauper wrote Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, but these COULD be California girls!

      Reply
  14. Diane says

    October 23, 2014 at 12:27 pm

    Amazing! Several of those pictures could have depicted the modern day. I mean – boy shorts? Those girls were stylin!
    Diane recently posted…Aunt EmilyMy Profile

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 12:47 pm

      I thought the same thing.

      Reply
  15. Cheryl Nicholl says

    October 23, 2014 at 12:44 pm

    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?My Profile

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 12:47 pm

      Haa is right!

      Reply
  16. Rosie Battista says

    October 23, 2014 at 1:56 pm

    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.My Profile

    Reply
  17. Rena McDaniel-The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver says

    October 23, 2014 at 2:02 pm

    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, SCMy Profile

    Reply
  18. Elaine Ambrose says

    October 23, 2014 at 2:19 pm

    Amazing! But where are the water bottles?
    Elaine Ambrose recently posted…If My Mother Died TodayMy Profile

    Reply
  19. Lisa @ Grandma's Briefs says

    October 23, 2014 at 2:46 pm

    Those are so great! Yes, girls do wanna have fun. Always have, always will.
    Lisa @ Grandma’s Briefs recently posted…A hauntingly good Halloween roundupMy Profile

    Reply
  20. D. A. Wolf says

    October 23, 2014 at 2:46 pm

    Ha! Who knew! This is great. You just made my day. (Now where are my barbells?)

    😉
    D. A. Wolf recently posted…Love QuizMy Profile

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 5:47 pm

      maybe they ran out of mosaics….

      Reply
  21. Kim says

    October 23, 2014 at 3:33 pm

    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 LivingMy Profile

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 5:46 pm

      I suspect they got plenty of exercise in every day life. Then again, maybe not.

      Reply
  22. Roz Warren says

    October 23, 2014 at 4:33 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Carol Cassara says

      October 23, 2014 at 5:46 pm

      It’s most likely the other way around–that there is nothing actually new in the world.

      Reply
  23. Angela Weight says

    October 23, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    How ’bout that!
    Angela Weight recently posted…Do you suffer from Escalophobia, Genophobia or Mycophobia? I fear for you.My Profile

    Reply
  24. WendysHat says

    October 24, 2014 at 12:30 am

    This is so funny to think about. I noticed many similarities on my recent visit to Pompei, Italy.
    WendysHat recently posted…Halloween Banana GhostsMy Profile

    Reply
  25. Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com says

    October 25, 2014 at 10:53 am

    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 PrayerMy Profile

    Reply
  26. Joan Stommen says

    October 26, 2014 at 12:23 pm

    Who knew is right! Unexpected discovery for sure in ancient ruins! Love how you captured the details and presented this in a fun way!

    Reply

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Carol-hat-EldersenseYour visit may make you laugh, think or expand a point of view. It might inform, inspire or even push some buttons. You’ll find intriguing discussions of spirituality as well as new ideas of all kinds.  You’ll also find some of the smartest commenters on the web. You don't have to agree with me either--all views respectfully expressed are welcome. So if something resonates with you in any way, don't hesitate to comment! Thank you for stopping by--oh, and why not subscribe so you don't miss a post?

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