30 Household Items From the Roman Empire & How They Look Today

This article appeared in thedaddest.com and has been published here with permission.

It's always a wonder to see how ancient civilizations made do with their daily lives as opposed to how it’s done in today’s world. They didn’t have the same type of creature comforts that are present today, but they did have the best of what was possible then. The Romans have always been good at doing their best with what they have, and it bettered their lives too during ancient times. Here are some everyday items used by the ancient Romans and how they differ from our version today.

Cutlery

Cutlery today comes in all shapes and sizes. From fancy china to simple plastic ones. Cutlery consists, of course, of spoons, forks, knives, etc. They're used in almost every household and eatery you step in.

However, during the height of the Roman civilization, cutlery had a different look. Cutlery then was mostly made of brass. The Romans usually ate their meals with knives and spoons, with forks being introduced much later.

Combs

The Roman combs were two-sided objects with bristles on both sides. The delicate item was made out of ivory and had two different sets of teeth on each side, one with wider spaces than the other.

Today, we have combs that usually have teeth only on one side. There are a variety of combs available on the market, all dependent on your needs. Wide, fine-tooth, curling, whatever you need - there's something for everybody.

Keys

The ancient Roman civilization was the first one to ever use keys similar to the one used in the modern era. The keys were mostly made of iron or bronze, sometimes even wood or ivory. The keys were all made manually, therefore, a locksmith had to be someone with great engineering knowledge.

Today, keys are usually made by machines and in bulk. Not only are they made a dime a dozen, but getting key copies is also extremely easy. Nowadays, they're made of many common metals like brass, nickel, and steel.

Leather Shoes

The modern era's leather shoes are a very popular choice of footwear amongst people. They're available in real leather as well as faux leather. Depending on their make and model, they can be used for hiking, walking, and, of course, as formal wear.

In the Roman era, shoes were a lot less common, with most people wearing sandals. The sandals had leather soles attached to the bottom of the feet. They had laces that could be tied above the ankle. The Romans removed their shoes before reclining or feasting.