Learning from History

 

In Roman times emperors and rich people like wealthy merchants used to build big mansions and palaces with high columns so that the building could be seen from miles around, especially if built on a hill. Rome had many hills as you know. It still has.

But inside the building it was all on one level. A huge palace all on one floor. They did not have an upstairs and downstairs because stairs had not been invented.

Until one day, a slave cleaner, a woman called Ella Vator, was vacuum cleaning the great banquet hall when she noticed a spider's web high on the ceiling. She could not reach up there to clean it. She got worried that her master, a rich merchant called Lay About, would notice the cobweb at the next dinner party when he and his guests lay on the floor on large cushions and enjoy a Margherita pizza. (No pineapple on pizza in those days).

As an aside, the Romans ate by lying on the floor because furniture had not been invented. This is because The Carpenters were busy making music instead. But I digress.

As another aside, did you know that The Carpenters used to rub wheat-germ and other grains in their hair?  Hence the song: "Why do birds suddenly appear? Every time you are near?"

You learn a lot from my research, dear readers. But I digress again. 

Any way, Ella Vator got worried about the spider's web so she asked her boyfriend, another slave named Staircasus for help. He brought in various pieces of stones, marble and rocks and put them on top of each other until he managed to climb and reach the ceiling. Unwittingly, he invented the staircase, named after him.

He reached the cobweb which he cleaned and then, using a goblet he trapped the spider underneath it, then slid a piece of parchment paper under the goblet and gently threw the house spider outside. Which begs the question: where did house spiders live before houses were invented? But I digress yet again. I must stop interrupting myself.

When the master came home he was furious to find a pile of rubble and stones in his banquet hall. He called in all the slaves and asked them who did it. No one spoke because they all feared him, and being members of the Slaves Union they protected each other. 

The rich merchant threatened to punish all of them unless one confessed.

So a slave stepped forward and said, "I am Staircasus!"

Then another did the same and said, "I am Staircasus!"

And another claimed, "I am Staircasus!" 

And another and another until they all claimed to be staircases in a one level building with no where to go up to because there was no upstairs to go to. 

So the merchant decided to build an upstairs and rewarded all his slaves for their brilliant idea.

This story was years later made into a film bearing the name of the famous slave "Staircasus".

ADDENDUM ... DE DUM ... DE DUM ...

Please see Bill's comment below. Other History lessons are available in my book "The Soup waved at me!" which you can download FREE from HERE

Or buy in KINDLE format HERE.

“The soup waved at me!” is a unique book in many respects. It is a collection of amusing short stories aimed at making you smile, laugh, or knock your socks off – the choice is yours.

The book is unique in that it has been written slowly to help readers who cannot read fast. It also contains a generous portion of punctuations to enable readers to stop and take a rest in long sentences. The author has also introduced the never used before double comma which looks like this ,, and allows you to stop reading a little longer and take a rest.

“The soup waved at me!” can be equally enjoyed whilst lying comfortably in a hot bubble bath listening to your favourite music, or standing in a warm shower holding your electronic tablet in your hand. Assuming of course that it is waterproof – the tablet, not your hand.

So sit back, or stand up, relax, and be prepared for an experience you’ve never imagined possible.