In Roman times we can find eminent public figures represented serenely in ‘heroic nudity’ as benefactors of the community and defenders of the homeland at a time when the Honor of great heroes was considered a desirable virtue.
During the Olympic Games held at stadiums, as the one built by Domitian under Piazza Navona, the athletes competed totally naked at the pentathlon (running, fighting, long-jump, disc-throwing, javelin-throwing) showing elegance, beauty and skills.
The ‘athletic bottom’ in the photo belongs to Caio Cartilio Poplicola (=friend of the people), elected eight times Duoviro (very important local office, lasting one year) in the colony of Ostia, inside the pronaos of the Temple of Hercules.
Making politics in antiquity was considered an honor and a duty towards the community, it gave a lot of prestige and those who could even went to finance public works at their own expense to associate their family (gens) to collective historical memory.
Ancient Greeks and Romans had great respect for their body and, after the morning business activities, they dedicated time to regenerate in the famous Baths which were gyms, pools and libraries. Their motto was mens sana in corpore sano (healthy mind in a healthy body), a teaching for the next generations.
Maurizio Rome Guide 