germanic and celtic houses

**the_handsome_viking** · 08-07-2005, 22:25

Originally Posted by Wazikashi

actually that looks quite liveable

I have a certain nostalgia for my more ancient and medieval ancestors way of life, except for the pillaging, slavery, disease, and hairy armpits bit.

I always thought the celts shaved off all their body hair... weird.

**Ranika** · 08-08-2005, 04:24

Celts did shave (or burn; I'll explain in a moment) all of their body hair off. Some Celts used a compound made with lye to essentially burn hair off, down to the follicle, so it wouldn't grown back; very painful. It was done out of matters of cleanliness. Celts were very big on personal hygiene, and body hair kept dirt close to the body.

And some Celtic houses show stonework types unlikely of Greek influence; generally the houses supposed to have belonged to wealthy merchants and aristocracy.

**Spongly** · 08-08-2005, 11:18

Most of the stone built roundhouses in Britain are, oddly enough, found in places where there is lots of stone and not much wood. They are pretty much built in the same way as a wooden roundhouse with stone walls replacing the wattle and daub. Hardly Greek influence, just a simple matter of available materials.

**Teutobod II** · 08-08-2005, 12:28

try this:

http://www.gsn.pbbn.de/faecher/latei...te/haeuser.htm

**Samurai Waki** · 08-08-2005, 18:58

Originally Posted by the_handsome_viking

I always thought the celts shaved off all their body hair... weird.

Did the Women?

Most ancient historians and Anthropologists left women out of their observations for the most part, unless they did something that was extremely noticeable... but seriously, do you know if Women did the same thing as the men... I'd hope so... it would make barbarian life back then just that much more enjoyable

**Dux Corvanus** · 08-09-2005, 00:04

Nay, nothing like tangling your fingers in the hairy breast of the woman you love...

**Ranika** · 08-09-2005, 01:14

Originally Posted by Wazikashi

Did the Women?

Most ancient historians and Anthropologists left women out of their observations for the most part, unless they did something that was extremely noticeable... but seriously, do you know if Women did the same thing as the men... I'd hope so... it would make barbarian life back then just that much more enjoyable

It's most likely; matters of cleanliness applied to everyone in a Celtic society, I don't see why women would be approached differently.

**Samurai Waki** · 08-09-2005, 03:20

well thats a load off my mind

jk

**SaFe** · 08-09-2005, 07:49

Will have to add my two cents here:-)

Germanics were always buried with a comb, a razor and soap.
That speaks for hygiene too.They, as the celts weren't either the dirty barbarians some people tried to make us believe.
They were extremely fond of their hair - the only sideback was that many warriors smeared butter in their hair to hold it back - a slightly disturbing smell in the sun:-)

b.t.w. the hair of germanic women was on the average more expensive in rome as a armenian slave.

**the_handsome_viking** · 08-09-2005, 18:32

Originally Posted by SaFe

Will have to add my two cents here:-)

Germanics were always buried with a comb, a razor and soap.
That speaks for hygiene too.They, as the celts weren't either the dirty barbarians some people tried to make us believe.
They were extremely fond of their hair - the only sideback was that many warriors smeared butter in their hair to hold it back - a slightly disturbing smell in the sun:-)

b.t.w. the hair of germanic women were on the average more expensive in rome as a armenian slave.

indeed.

I remember it said in germania that everyday the germanics woke up they would have a hot bath.

Habits of Life. On waking from sleep, which they generally prolong for a late hour of the day, they take a bath, most often of warm water, which suits a country where winter is the longest of the seasons.

http://www.unrv.com/tacitus/tacitus-germania-6.php

was the hair expensive becuase of its condition or because it was blonde?

**SaFe** · 08-09-2005, 19:07

Originally Posted by the_handsome_viking

indeed.

I remember it said in germania that everyday the germanics woke up they would have a hot bath.

Habits of Life. On waking from sleep, which they generally prolong for a late hour of the day, they take a bath, most often of warm water, which suits a country where winter is the longest of the seasons.

http://www.unrv.com/tacitus/tacitus-germania-6.php

was the hair expensive becuase of its condition or because it was blonde?

The colour - it was "chic" for roman ladies to wear red or blond "fake" hair.

**the_handsome_viking** · 08-09-2005, 18:18

Originally Posted by Wazikashi

Did the Women?

Most ancient historians and Anthropologists left women out of their observations for the most part, unless they did something that was extremely noticeable... but seriously, do you know if Women did the same thing as the men... I'd hope so... it would make barbarian life back then just that much more enjoyable

id like to believe the women did too.

for obvious reasons.