Video - Historical Oddities: Killer Makeup, Flea Traps & Gladiator Smoothies!
Did you know that in the 18th century, French aristocrats had some pretty bizarre beauty habits? For instance, they used lead-based makeup to achieve that ghostly pale look, which, you guessed it, was highly toxic and often led to lead poisoning. Talk about killer looks! And if that's not enough, they also carried around tiny, decorative flea traps to attract fleas away from their bodies. Imagine showing off your fancy flea trap at a party - quite the conversation starter! But wait, there's more. In ancient Rome, they believed that gladiator blood was a cure for epilepsy, so people would actually drink it after a fight. Nothing like a fresh cup of gladiator smoothie! Oh, and let's not forget medieval Europe, where people thought bathing was unhealthy, so they masked their odor with strong perfumes. Eau de medieval stench, anyone? History sure has its quirky moments! What's the weirdest historical fact you've heard? Drop it in the comments!