ON Tuesday 17th October members of the Active Retirement Club (ARC) spent a day in Ancient Rome! More accurately, they were conducted around for an hour by their speaker, an archaeologist, who guided them around the city through the eyes of a couple who were visiting for the day.
Having arrived after breakfast, the husband made his way through the streets past the forum to the business centre for his various meetings, while his wife went shopping for household supplies. The shops were laid out in streets depending on what they sold. Food in one street, clothes in another and furniture and household items in yet another.
Later that morning, our couple met up at the baths for mixed bathing before lunch. It was popular to wash off the grime of the city streets before the midday repast. One memorable illustration depicted a hundred-seater, open plan mixed toilet without any cubicles. No false modesty in those days. Speaking of which, they also collected and used the urine in laundering their clothes as the ammonia content helped remove stains. After lunch they made their way to the Colosseum for an afternoon’s entertainment at the games.
Sometimes arenas were flooded and depicted seaborne battles. Other spectacles included man against animals and man against man, though rarely to the death as gladiators were valuable assets unlike those depicted in Hollywood films who were expendable. The general consensus was that despite today’s cost of living problems, we much preferred to be living in Westbury.
ARC will meet again on Tuesday 31st October at 10am for a quiz in the United Reformed Church
Hall in Westbury. Guests are welcome and can enjoy two free club meetings before deciding if they want to join. Membership costs £10 per month. If you would like to join ARC or would like to find out more, please call Mark on 01373 823826.
