Completely random, I’m a fan of r/powerwashingporn but it has me thinking... what did the ancients do to power wash all their marble and granite monoliths, coliseums and pyramids? What sort of building maintenance schematics did they have?

by Addledbyatmosphere
sunagainstgold

Hi, friends,

Welcome to AskHistorians! A few points to keep in mind:

  • AskHistorians requires that answers be in-depth, comprehensive, and supported by current academic research

  • Yes, buildings in ancient Rome (but that is just one ancient civilization!) were brightly painted

  • No, paint does not stop particulates of air pollution from settling onto building surfaces

  • Yes, there was already air pollution in ancient Rome (and other ancient cities) from smoke

  • Roman poet Horace explains this on multiple occasions in his odes:

  • (1) "Thou shalt atone, O Roman, for the sins of your ancestors, though innocent, till you shall have repaired the temples and tottering shrines of the gods, and their statues, defiled with sooty smoke."

  • (2) "Leave abundance, which is the source of daintiness, and the mass of buildings approaching near the lofty clouds: cease to admire the smoke, and opulence, and noise of flourishing Rome."

  • In 17th century England--long before the Industrial Revolution, yes--women made an exfoliating paste out of crushed almonds to scrub the soot from air pollution off their faces and hands

  • That last bit is completely irrelevant to the ancient world but still a really cool fact

Please don't clutter the thread complaining about all the removed comments. It's not fair to OP or to other users who click on the thread.

Thanks!