A urinal? Really?
I love to learn new oddball facts. Especially while reading the newspaper.
Like today's New York Times article about a new statue of Pope John Paul II.
I can't really tell from the photo provided and I'm not sure if I care enough to delve deeper or to join in the "crescendo of outrage," but I do like learning new words and factoids.
Here's my Fact of the Day:
"The starkly spare sculpture by a Rome-based artist, Oliviero Rainaldi, depicts the pope condensed into a massive mantle as if to envelop the faithful. It has been alternately described as a sentry box, a bell and a papal vespasiano, as Romans call a urinal. (Vespasian was the first-century emperor who levied a tax on urine, which was used for tanning leather.)"
Who Knew?
(Or maybe Who Cares?)
Possibly Related Post: Word A Day
2 comments:
Actually, I think the factoid about taxing urine is just as wierd and interesting!
My sentiments exactly!
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