Search Results: Feet washing

An 1888 oil on canvas painting, Langlois Bridge at Arles with Women Washing, by Vincent van Gogh (1853-90), the Dutch post-impressionist artist. Painted in March near Arles in southern France, one of several studies of this bridge. The artist...

A Chinese woman of the early 20th century CE with feet made smaller by the ancient practice of foot-binding. (From 'Women Of All Nations' published by Underwood & Underwood, 1911)

An 1881 oil on canvas painting, Peasant Hanging the Washing, by Berthe Morisot (1841-95), the French impressionist painter. Depicting a scene from the banlieues of Paris where new housing was recently built for poorer families so that they...

Pilate Washing His Hands by Mattia Preti (Il Cavalier Calabrese)(Italian, Taverna 1613–1699 CE Valletta), 1663 CE. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the Roman governor Pontius Pilate tried to save Christ from death and symbolically washed...

The fullers of ancient Rome were launderers who washed the clothes of the city and also finished processing fabric later made into clothing, blankets, or other necessary items. They were looked down upon for their use of human and animal...

People in the Middle Ages have acquired something of a bad reputation when it comes to cleanliness, especially the peasantry. However, despite the general lack of running water and other modern amenities, there were common expectations of...

Diogenes of Sinope (c. 404-323 BCE) was a Greek Cynic philosopher best known for holding a lantern to the faces of the citizens of Athens claiming he was searching for an honest man. He was most likely a student of the philosopher Antisthenes...

The Death of Gilgamesh is a Sumerian poem relating the death and afterlife of the famous hero-king of Uruk, who had become a legendary figure. The piece is dated to before the Ur III Period (2047-1750 BCE), and although its theme informs...

The germ theory, which emerged in the late 19th century, demonstrated that microscopic germs caused most human infectious diseases. The germs involved included bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and prions. Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), a French...

For the ancient Egyptians life was a celebration, and so, just as one would want to look one's best at any party, personal hygiene was an important cultural value. The Egyptians bathed daily, shaved their heads to prevent lice or other problems...