Timeless Call of Crude Jokes Reflected in Ancient Roman Artworks
In the bustling cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, over 1,500 years ago, a vibrant culture thrived. Amidst the grandeur of Roman architecture, a less formal form of art was also flourishing - graffiti. These hidden masterpieces, carefully preserved under layers of ash and dirt, offer a unique glimpse into the lives, thoughts, and humour of the ancient Romans.
One such graffito, found on a mural, reads, "The finance officer of the emperor Nero says this food is poison", hinting at the thoughts of an ancient food critic. The witty remark, though centuries old, echoes the sentiments that one might find scribbled on a bathroom stall at a local bar today.
Archaeologists have unearthed risqué scenes, nude mythological figures, and phallic shapes in Roman murals, reflecting the sexual nature of ancient art. A quote found on the exterior of a tavern, "Restituta, take off your tunic, please, and show us your hairy privates", showcases how little human behaviour has changed over the millennia.
Disputes and gossip were not foreign to the ancient world either. Graffiti such as "Sanius to Cornelius: Go hang yourself" and "Lucilla made money from her body", etched outside of a basilica, suggest neighbourly disagreements and scandals that were as prevalent then as they are now.
In a more light-hearted vein, a graffito next to a picture of a man with a large nose reads, "Amplicatus, I know that Icarus is buggering you. Salvius wrote this", a playful jest that would not be out of place in a modern-day bar.
The vivid pigments in paintings discovered at Pompeii and Herculaneum have survived remarkably intact, thanks to being buried under volcanic ash for over 1,500 years. The Ancient Graffiti Project, a valuable resource, provides detailed maps and insights into this amateur art, offering a fascinating window into the lives of the ancient Romans.
In more recent times, in the city of Amman, Jordan, two well-preserved tomb chambers with ancient Egyptian comics were found in 2024, further expanding our understanding of the humour and art of the ancient world.
These graffiti works serve as a testament to the universal human desire to communicate, to express, and to entertain. They remind us that, despite the passage of time and the changes in society, some aspects of human nature remain constant.
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