Once again, truth is stranger than fiction, because fiction has to be plausible.

[xiphias]

According to the book Guns, Germs, and Steel, which I am finally reading and enjoying the heck out of, the earliest alphabetic Greek writing that we have (as opposed to Linear B) is a wine jug with the following inscription: "Whoever of all dancers performs the most nimbly will win this vase as a prize."

The second-oldest inscription is on a drinking cup: "I am Nestor's delicious drinking-cup. Whoever drinks from this cup swiftly will the desire of fair-crowned Aphrodite sieze him."

Dance contest trophies and beer-goggles jokes. That's the heritage passed down to us from the ancients.

Restores your faith in humanity, doesn't it?

Comments

[ckd]

The third oldest is probably "I AM CHARIS PALAKIS WIDOW OF KERIL PALAKIS LATE OF ATHENS GREECE. HE HAS LEFT 5 MILLION (5 000 000) TALENTS HIDDEN IN POTTERY IN SPARTA. I REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE...."

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

*splorf*

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Seriously, though, there is no documented evidence of that particular scam from before 1588, I believe. It was probably around before then, but it really requires some form of banking industry and letters of credit to make it work.

I wonder just how early in history you COULD pull a Spanish Prisoner or Pigeon Drop? Lis has some facsimile copies of Robert Greene's "Coney Catching" books from 1591-92, which explain a few of the elaborate cons which "cozeners" of the late sixteenth century used on the country bumpkins that flowed into the cities. There were well-organized and well-trained bands of con artists, so I'm sure that they would have no problems handling -- or inventing -- these classic cons.

But, did this group of London cozeners INVENT the Spanish Prisoner, or did they get it form EARLIER groups? That, I don't know.

Although, if I were in the Middle Ages, I could work out a simplified version based on ransoming a captured knight. . . hmm . . .

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

I've heard it said that the major problem with writing con stories (movies, television) is that there are so few really effective cons. So after a while, the plots all start to look alike.

Makes me want to write a story about a conman who has invented a new con--

[temima.livejournal.com]

Of course there is always the graffito: "For a good time, send a scroll to . . ."

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

That's the oldest LATIN inscription. Something along the lines of, "Please see prostitute so-and-so. She is very skilled and has reasonable rates. She is often available at this location. This message was put here by her."

Something like that. I don't remember exactly what it said, but it was along those lines.

[temima.livejournal.com]

So, would an graffito of "Julius Gaius gives men pleasure by his mouth" be the second-oldest Latin inscription?

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

No, those were MUCH later. And the actual graffito was "Julius Gaius is husband to every man's wife, and wife to every woman's husband."

[navrins]

Don't know if you intended it, but there's actually a lot of truth to that... when Caesar was young his enemies spread the rumor he was homosexual, which rumor he decided to quell by seducing the wives of the men who spread it.

Colleen McCullough's "First Man in Rome" series is an excellent set of fictionalized history books. Judging by her afterwards, they're extremely well researched.

And ancient rome did have banking.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's the actual wording of what was said about Caesar.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

Actually it _does_ restore my faith in humanity. Each time someone talks about how things are going to change so that people won't recognize themselves, I smile and think of things like this. Humans are going to be OK.

[nex0s.livejournal.com]

definitely restores my faith :) and the ancients knew how to have a good time! :D

i loved GG&S. i just got an audible.com account. have listened to Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" which i think you would find enjoyable. right now i'm listening to "Salt: A Biography". it's good, but not as good as Bryson's book. some interesting facts though. and now i really, Really want to visit the Dead Sea.

n.

[burgundy.livejournal.com]

and now i really, Really want to visit the Dead Sea.

Whatever you do, do not shave the morning before you go in. Bad, bad idea. Just ask my mother.

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

Restores your faith in humanity, doesn't it?

Nearly it does. (smile) And I like the dancing part too.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're reading that book. I look forward to discussing it with you.

I once read a letter from a man to his son, wherein the man complained about his son's hairstyle and how the boy didn't want to go to school. The date of the letter? 1800 BCE. The more things change...