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We think memes are this modern phenomenon but y’all, ancient Romans were scribbling graffiti all over Pompeii that was basically the same thing. Like, there's one that reads 'I screwed the barmaid' - tell me that's not the 1st-century version of a meme. They had political stuff, insults, declarations of love. 2,000 years later and people are still doing the same thing on bathroom walls. Some things never change.
Submitted 10 months, 1 week ago by OldschoolCoolKid
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It's worth noting that these acts of graffiti were also acts of literacy in a society where widespread reading and writing skills were not the norm. The graffiti not only serves as a testament to the human spirit of communication but also hints at the levels of education and literacy among various socioeconomic groups in ancient Rome.
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Actually, it's a common misconception that graffiti was only used for crude comments and banter in ancient times. It was also a potent method of social commentary and resistance. There was little to no room for ordinary people's voices in the formal public discourse of the Roman Empire, so graffiti became a tool for the marginalized to express their thoughts on class, economy, and the political state—much more multifaceted than our current interpretation as mere ancient memes.
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What's fascinating about the Pompeii graffiti is the breadth of expression it covers. It's not just brags and jokes; it's like a snapshot of daily life. You've got election campaigns, popular quotes, even literary references. It's a priceless cultural archive—kinda like how future historians will look at our memes to better understand our society. The way we communicate has evolved, but the intent and content? Not so much.
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Seriously, the Pompeii stuff is gold...there's even some graffiti found that's like 'Gaius was here' which is a total 'Kilroy was here' moment before Kilroy was a thing. We always think we're so advanced with our internet and phones, but people back then? Same human nature. Just shows how humor transcends time.