When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 80 AD (or 79 AD--there's some debate), it succeeded in completely annihilating the thriving coastal city of Pompeii. Buried under many feet of ash and burnt by pyroclastic flows, Pompeii lay invisible and but a memory for centuries.
But, as we all know, the town was eventually liberated from its tomb of ash and rock, revealing one of the best preserved cities of ancient Rome. The place was once again laid bare, complete with the twisted forms of some of its immolated citizens, charred scrolls, houses complete with brass plumbing, tile artwork...and graffiti.
Much of the graffiti is in the form of political jibber-jabber. Yes, there were local elections, even in the days of the emperors. Then, as today, the corporate/plutocratic elite had to let the people think that they actually had a voice. And there was even pornographic commentary and humor of the most vulgar and gutter type. Again, proving that people have changed not at all since those great days of Roman empire.
But to me, the most interesting were the ones obviously left by the ancient Roman equivalent of Libertarians. Proving that the human race was, even then, infected with those Libertarian filth. Following, the Libertarian graffiti of Pompeii:
Profit is happiness!
Money doesn't stink
Here Harpocras has had a good fuck with Drauca for a denarius.
And this one, my favorite, written about whom the Libertarians support:
The petty thieves support Vatia for the aedileship.
And there was this one, obviously by someone sick of the Libertarian morons:
I wonder, O, wall, that you have not fallen in ruins from supporting the stupidities of so many scribblers.
And finally there's this, about a Libertarian's momma:
If anyone sits here, let him read this first of all: if anyone wants a screw, he should look for Attice; she costs 4 sestertii.
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