Why do the shirtless units shave their bodies?

**konny** · 08-22-2008, 11:57

Originally Posted by L.C.Cinna

That's all complete nonsense. The Romans bathed a lot.

And what had this to do with soldiers on campaign smelling?

**General Appo** · 08-22-2008, 15:20

Yeah, no matter how obsessed the Romans were with bathing it´s not like they built a bathhouse togheter with the daily camp. Near to permanent forts maybe, but do you really think Caesar´s soldiers stopped every day to build a bathhouse?

**Mediolanicus** · 08-22-2008, 16:14

About the water usage :

Don't forget that nowadays we turn the tap when we want water.
In roman times, fountains, thermae and aquaducts were running 24/7, regardless of the fact that someone was actually using them or not.
That's why the water usage was so high. They didn't necessarily washed themselves constantly...