Jobs on a bank holiday

A suitably light-hearted piece to reproduce on a bank holiday Monday, from Courier News. The spell-checker seems to have done damage to the nomenclator.

Some jobs stretch back to ancient Romans, Greeks

May 27, 2007
BY Jackie Farwell Associated Press

When they weren't busy founding modern civilization, the ancient Greeks and Romans spent their free time much like we do — shoe shopping, rocking out at concerts and gossiping at parties.

Behind the scenes were workers and slaves whose jobs prove remarkably similar to many modern-day occupations, according to Vicki Leon, author of Working IX to V: Orgy Planners, Funeral Clowns and Other Prized Professions of the Ancient World .

Among them was the sandaligerula, who made sure her mistress was wearing the proper shoes at all times, not unlike the personal stylists of today.

A locarius was the ancient equivalent of the ticket scalper, buying up tokens to theater and athletic performances to hawk at a profit.

“While all the gladiators were making a killing inside the arena, the scalpers were making a killing outside the arena,” Leon said.

Similar to Miranda Priestly's assistant in The Devil Wears Prada , a nomenclature stood behind her boss at parties and whispered guests' names as they approached.

Then there's those orgy planners — no doubt a popular topic of conversation around the aqueduct.

Another review here.