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Roman Gladiator Sweat Sold as Cosmetics and Aphrodisiacs
Roman Gladiators Ancient Rome Bizarre Customs Archive: verified 4/5 wildness

In the Roman Empire, gladiator sweat and skin scrapings (scraped off with a strigil) were bottled and sold in souvenir vials outside arenas to be used as facial creams, skin tonics, and intimate aphrodisiacs by Roman women.

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Archive Record · Ancient Rome

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Roman Gladiator Sweat Sold as Cosmetics and AphrodisiacsAI concept artwork

Bizarre Customs4/5 wildness

Roman Gladiator Sweat Sold as Cosmetics and Aphrodisiacs

Roman Gladiators / Ancient Rome

In the Roman Empire, gladiator sweat and skin scrapings (scraped off with a strigil) were bottled and sold in souvenir vials outside arenas to be used as facial creams, skin tonics, and intimate aphrodisiacs by Roman women.

Archive: verified

03 The ancient archive

More Stories from the Ancient History Archive

Rulers. Rituals. Relics.
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10 storiesFrom the collection

10 stories in this selection.

01

Mad Rulers & TyrantsAncient Rome

Emperor Elagabalus Smothers Party Guests under Rose Petals

Emperor Elagabalus

According to historical records, the teenage Roman Emperor Elagabalus released a massive volume of rose petals and violet flowers from a false ceiling during a dinner party, accidentally suffocating several of his guests to death.

Archive: verified ↗
02

Cursed Tombs & RelicsAncient Egypt

The Curse of Tutankhamun's Tomb and Associated Mysterious Deaths

King Tutankhamun

Tabloids popularized the idea of a mummy's curse after Lord Carnarvon died of an infected mosquito bite five months after opening Tutankhamun's tomb. Statistical studies of the excavations confirmed that those who entered the tomb did not die at a younger average age than expected.

Debunked ↗
03

Ancient WarfareAncient Rome / Parthian Empire

General Crassus Executed by Having Molten Gold Poured Down His Throat

Marcus Licinius Crassus

Following his disastrous defeat at the Battle of Carrhae, the famously wealthy Roman Triumvir Crassus was captured by Parthian forces and executed by having molten gold poured down his throat to symbolize his unquenchable greed.

Archive: verified ↗
04

Myths & LegendsPtolemaic Egypt

Cleopatra Died of Snakebite Asp Suicide Legend

Cleopatra VII

Popular legends claim Cleopatra committed suicide by forcing an asp to bite her breast. Modern historians suggest she likely ingested a lethal concoction of toxic herbs, hemlock, and opium instead, as a snake bite would have taken hours to kill her.

Debunked ↗
05

Tragedies & PlaguesAncient Rome

Preserved Plaster Casts of Pompeii Victims capturing Final Moments

Pompeii Eruption

During the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius, victims were buried in hot ash. In the 1860s, archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli realized that injecting plaster into the hollow spaces left by decomposed bodies revealed perfect three-dimensional casts of their final struggling poses.

Archive: verified ↗
06

Mad Rulers & TyrantsAncient Rome

Emperor Caligula Appointed His Horse Incitatus to the Senate

Emperor Caligula

Suetonius wrote that Caligula planned to make his horse Incitatus a consul. Modern historians argue this was likely a satirical political joke by Caligula intended to embarrass the Roman Senate by showing that even a horse could do their job.

Debunked ↗
Showing 1–6 of 10

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From the ancient archive

Roman Gladiators / Ancient Rome

Roman Gladiator Sweat Sold as Cosmetics and Aphrodisiacs

Bizarre CustomsArchive: verified4/5 wildness

In the Roman Empire, gladiator sweat and skin scrapings (scraped off with a strigil) were bottled and sold in souvenir vials outside arenas to be used as facial creams, skin tonics, and intimate aphrodisiacs by Roman women.

Follow the sources

Status and citations are supplied by the archive. AI concept art is an interpretation, not historical evidence.