Don't let the bedbugs bite!

In addition to deep and profound philosophy, classical Athens also scores in a slightly more prosaic subject:  the earliest documented mention of bedbugs comes from them.  It's in a play called The Clouds, written by Aristophanes.

In it, no less than Socrates is instructing a young man named Strepsiades.  Socrates asks his student what deep thoughts he is thinking.  Strespiades replies, "Whether there'll be anything left of me after the bedbugs have finished chewing."



2 comments:

Amalia Dillin said...

Ha. Deep thoughts!

The more things change the more they stay the same, it seems! at least in regard to pests and kittens.

Gary Corby said...

I'm not sure ancient Greeks posted very many pictures of kittens. But if they'd had the internet I'm sure they would have.