Commonly taught inaccuracies about the classical world

[Maty]

Ummm, yes. As long as we accept that many northern Italians and Frenchmen are blue-eyed natural blondes.

This could be a legacy of the Lombard invasion, or even the time when Gauls occupied Cisalpine Gaul. I have observed this in Northern and central Italy but not the south.

 

As you say, the present blonds in North Italy might be of Lombard descent. But then the darker complexions of the south - especially Sicily - might traced to later Arab invaders. They were there for 200 years, I believe.

 

Anyway, why don't we ask the Romans? Google 'roman frescos' and study those from classical Italy. Assuming that the painters used standard Roman types as their models, we find plenty of swarthy Italian types, but also plenty of pale complexions, lots of mousy brown hair, and the occasional blond. Not much different from what one might find on an English street.

[sylla]

Sub idem fere tempus et ab Attalo rege et Rhodiis legati uenerunt nuntiantes Asiae quoque ciuitates sollicitari. his legationibus responsum est curae eam rem senatui fore; consultatio de Macedonico bello integra ad consules, qui tunc in prouinciis erant, reiecta est. interim ad Ptolomaeum Aegypti regem legati tres missi, C. Claudius Nero M. Aemilius Lepidus P. Sempronius Tuditanus, ut nuntiarent uictum Hannibalem Poenosque et gratias agerent regi quod in rebus dubiis, cum finitimi etiam socii Romanos desererent, in fide mansisset, et peterent ut, si coacti iniuriis bellum aduersus Philippum suscepissent, pristinum animum erga populum Romanum conseruaret.

 

Eodem fere tempore P. Aelius consul in Gallia, cum audisset a Boiis ante suum aduentum incursiones in agros sociorum factas, duabus legionibus subitariis tumultus eius causa scriptis additisque ad eas quattuor cohortibus de exercitu suo, C. Ampium praefectum socium hac tumultuaria manu per Umbriam qua tribum Sapiniam uocant agrum Boiorum inuadere iussit; ipse eodem aperto itinere per montes duxit. Ampius ingressus hostium fines primo populationes satis prospere ac tuto fecit. delecto deinde ad castrum Mutilum satis idoneo loco ad demetenda frumenta

Edited January 1, 2010 by sylla