tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post6695722599914441630..comments2023-10-12T02:21:40.102-07:00Comments on English Historical Fiction Authors: Just how dirty were the Anglo-Saxons?Debra Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-86694139765940810922015-07-13T19:32:56.209-07:002015-07-13T19:32:56.209-07:00This was a good start in the right direction. It s...This was a good start in the right direction. It should be pointed out that even in our modern society, with all the "in door" plumbing, there are still those who are disgustingly smelly and dirty. <br /><br />On another note, I knew people who grew up in rural places in the 60's and 70's who had no plumbing, and very rarely took a "bath" as in immersing one's self in water. (That would occur on a summer day when the rain filled up the outdoor bath, at which time everyone in the family took a turn) This is not to say, however, that they were dirty, smelly, or disgusting people, They washed every day in a basin of water, using a bar of soap and a small cloth. <br /><br />In many late medieval paintings, one can see people washing this way, or the apparatus for doing so. Perhaps these people were also keeping themselves clean in the same way.<br /><br />Lastly, even in hospitals, patients who are bedridden, are (or were, I haven't been in one since the 80's) still bathed in this manner. If it is an acceptable way to keep someone clean in hospital, then, in my opinion, the notion of people not being clean because they did not have a Moen or Kohler shower pumping hundreds of litres of water on them every day needs to go out the window; right along with the notion that everyone's furniture was made of crude planks and hacked out of Logs with axes. Medieval people were much more sophisticated than most modern people are willing to give them credit for!Johann von Katzenelnbogenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12774736348480165809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-23359954351455656912015-07-05T10:13:34.677-07:002015-07-05T10:13:34.677-07:00Indeed!
Indeed!<br />Richard Denninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04100630477156445021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-24536864017086273042015-07-05T07:19:30.905-07:002015-07-05T07:19:30.905-07:00I am the proud owner of genuine Anglo- Saxon tweez...I am the proud owner of genuine Anglo- Saxon tweezers!Carol McGrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11072696398820339640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-82844819104951734652015-07-05T06:14:28.427-07:002015-07-05T06:14:28.427-07:00okay that was interesting but kinda yucky, i'm...okay that was interesting but kinda yucky, i'm thankful that we have in door plumbing now Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-3352750631126495752015-07-04T20:07:36.222-07:002015-07-04T20:07:36.222-07:00Well, one never knows, on the one hand, Ibn Fadlan...Well, one never knows, on the one hand, Ibn Fadlan says that the Vikings he met took care of their hair, but were otherwise disgustingly dirty, on the other there is a complIaint in the 12th century from a Saxon who says that those damned Vikings are getting all the girls because they WASH so much! Like weekly! Sorry, can't recall the name, but found it while I was looking for primary materials on the Vikings for my year 8 history class. I guess when you live somewhere cold it's a comfort to slip into a warm bath, and I believe that knoght's who had been in armour all day for one reason or another would wash if only to soothe their aches and pains.Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.com