The Curtius Museum in Liège explores the city archaeologically and culturally from its Roman settlement to the Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo. At each significant period, representative objects are exhibited.
Roman litter fills an entire floor of display cases. One metal instrument I found freakishly fascinating.
We all know that the Romans loved their baths. Not too far from Liège is the town of Spa where the name was coined. In lieu of soap, the bather could use a strigil made of bronze or iron to clean off dirt.
So after a long march leveling barbarian villages, the Roman legions smell the sulphur rising from the hot springs. Flavius Bardo strips off his leather breast plate and sprints towards the steamy water. A voice cries out. “Halt, Bardo! You’re plastered with topsoil! You’ve got seeds behind your ears that are taking root. Ten denarii and I’ll let you use my strigil.”
I imagine the trick was to get rid of the dirt without scraping off a layer of skin.