Top 10 Weirdest & Rarest Jobs in the World Of All Time
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| Illustrated picture. Photo: Mixi's |
There is no doubt that our modern society today is far cry from it of the past. The way we live change will lead to the change of the jobs that help us make a living. Yes, there are some strangest careers in history you might never even imagine.
The list of the 10 weirdest and rarest jobs around the world in history
1. Ornatrices
2. Whipping Boy
3. Alchemist
4. Leech Collector
5. Stone Eater
6. Orgy Planner
7. Paint Drying Watcher
8. The Ravenmaster
9. Funeral clown
10. Chimney Sweep
What are the top 10 weirdest and rarest jobs around the world in history?
1. Ornatrices
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| Photo: Look4ward |
Remember that awesome Bravo show Tabitha's Salon Takeover?
Well, if that taught you anything, it should be that styling hair can be a nightmare.
Back in ancient Rome, it was even worse. Ornatrices were enslaved hairdressers responsible for creating the ornate and insane looks that were popular at the time. An ornatrix had to deal with lots of gnarly ingredients to cater to fashionable Romans — hair dye was made up of rotten leeches, squid ink, pigeon poop, and urine, according to Listverse.
2. Whipping Boy
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| Photo: Grunge |
How do you solve a problem like disciplining a spoiled young prince? Simple: give them a new friend to play with... and then beat the kid whenever the prince messes up. Sounds totally healthy.
Surprisingly, sometimes being a whipping boy came with a few sweet perks. The ill-fated Charles I elevated his whipping boy to the position of the first Earl of Dysart in 1643, according to the History of Parliament. Probably out of guilt.
3. Alchemist
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| Photo: Center for BI |
When we think of alchemy, we tend to think of medieval crackpots attempting to turn random items into gold.
Still, as Smithsonian Magazine reported, alchemy wasn't totally a waste; the founder of modern chemistry Robert Boyle essentially ripped off an alchemist's research to further his own studies.
4. Leech Collector
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| Photo: wonderlist |
Back when medicine was in its "let's just bleed the patient to death" phase, people called leech collectors would cull leeches from the ground with animal legs and then sell them to doctors, who would then stick them on people to "treat" them.
They did pretty well during the "leech craze" of the 1800s, according to the Science Museum.
5. Stone Eater
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| Photo: whatculture |
Professional eaters have long been a thing, and it remains a valid if weird profession today. From people who spend their lives participating in hot dog eating contests, to Adam Richman from Man Vs Food, eating food can be a way to make a living. In the Georgian era these professional eaters were common as well, but instead of eating food, they specialised in guzzling something a bit more eclectic stones. Newspapers would advertise Stone Eaters who could eat up to 150 rocks and bear no ill effects. One of the most famous was Francis Battalia, who was said to eat half a peck of stones a day, which roughly translates as 8 pints worth of gravel. The validity of his stone eating was even put to the test, when he was accused of being an imposter, investigated, and cleared of all charges. Whether it was trickery or not, Battalia and other Stone Eaters would still attract crowds of thousands of people, who would marvel at their feats and try and work out how they were achieved.
6. Orgy Planner
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| Photo: whatculture |
Where now we have party planners, orgy planner was once a valid career choice. Employed by the wealthy in Ancient Rome, the planners were there to carry off the debauchery and were responsible for bringing the food, music, accommodation and women. Considering Nero’s orgies could last for as long as 12 hours, you can see why an orgy planner might be needed.
7. Paint Drying Watcher
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| Photo: TopTenz |
Every time you complain that you’d rather watch paint dry, you can console yourself with the knowledge that people actually do that and get paid to do so too. These research scientists are the people behind the ‘fast drying paint’ and ‘quick dry gloss’ claims. Rest assured, they know what they’re talking about.
8. The Ravenmaster
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| Photo: The Guardian |
A legend that is thought to date back to Charles II, it is said that the Tower of London must always be protected by six ravens, or Britain will fall. Given how much is at stake, it only makes sense then that the ravens should be protected, which is where the position of the Ravenmaster comes in. The Ravenmaster is there to look after the six birds (plus the reserve raven), feeding them and making sure that they don’t stray too far. It might be an ancient tradition, but you can follow the current Ravenmaster on social media…
9. Funeral Clown
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| Photo: The Star |
A serious profession around the 4th Century, mourners in Ancient Rome could expect to be distracted from proceedings by the presence of the funeral clown. Hired to appease the spirit of the dead and cheer up the living, the clown was there to mock the recently deceased—a job role that included wearing a mask of the dead person’s face. What’s even scarier than the thought of a clown masquerading as your lost loved one is that this profession is being revived: you can now do as the Romans did and hire your own funeral clown.
10. Chimney Sweep
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| Photo: Grunge |
The chimney sweep life was nothing like the rooftop jamboree depicted in "Mary Poppins."
Chimney sweeps cleaned out the soot that built up over winters spent burning wood to keep warm. Master sweeps essentially bought children from impoverished parents, according to the CT Sweep blog. Kids could fit into the chimneys better, and would suffer health issues from the harsh work.
| Above is a list of the top 10 rarest and weirdest jobs around the world in history that KnowInsiders want to introduce to you. We bet that there are even more, so let us know in the comment section below. If you find yourself interested in this article, please like, share, and follow KnowInsiders for more. Thanks for tuning in! |
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