The Forgotten Postures of History

Last week, a journalist fired off a viral tweet, bewildered by the spectacle of former UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov’s posture laying on a couch. The pose baffled him, a sharp contrast to his own routine of lounging in chairs or sprawling on beds. This posture struck him as bizarre, a deviation from the norm he couldn't fathom.

It turns out there is a special reason for this posture. The posture of reclining on the left side, a practice deeply ingrained in the histories of ancient Romans, Greeks, Hebrews, and Assyrians is far more than a mere physical stance. This choice of posture, first was depicted in the 700 BC bas-relief of King Assurbanipal of Assyria.

It keeps coming up in art history. Here is an Etruscan version

The Last Supper probably looked something like this intead of the iconic Leonardo painting we all have seen.

Take Judaism, for instance. During the Passover meal, known as the Seder, there's a specific obligation to eat while reclining to the left. This ritual is a vibrant echo of a historical practice, a living testament to a tradition that has otherwise vanished from daily life. Through this active exploration, we unravel the layers of cultural evolution and the sometimes arbitrary abandonment of practices that once held significant meaning.

When was the last time you saw someone recline on their left side after a meal? It's a rarity, almost a cultural artifact.

The usual explanation is that lying on the left leaves the right hand free to hold the dining vessels. But that’s a dumb, simplistic take. Usually, in tradition, there is some intelligence to it. And in this case here there is. Reclining on your left side helps with digestion due to the shape of the stomach. 

“The stomach has an irregular shape that curves upon itself. Its rounded base is turned to the left. There are two openings: one at the top where food enters from the oesophagus and one at the base, the pyloric orifice, from which part-digested food exits. Eating lying down increases abdominal pressure and thus promotes gastro-oesophageal reflux, in which the acid stomach contents are forced back up the oesophagus, causing the unpleasant sensation known as heartburn. When lying on the left, the chewed food has room to expand because the curvature of the stomach is enhanced in that position. The lesser curvature on the right side of the stomach gives little space for food to resist the increased abdominal pressure and so lying on the right will soon cause reflux.”

But no one does this anymore. At least not in the west. We focus on stuff like the La-Z-boy

In This Newsletter

1) Forgotten Postures. What are some other the postures we in the modern world abandoned?

2) Physical Culture Rivalry. The late 19th and early 20th centuries set the stage for this intriguing rivalry in Physical culture. Yoga vs the Mazdaznan movement. It mixed Zoroastrianism and health philosophies, and claimed its exercises originated from ancient Egyptian practices. However, Mazdaznan's journey took a dark turn with its ties to Nazi Germany. The Nazis, obsessed with racial purity and physical prowess, co-opted various alternative practices, including Mazdaznan. This association stained Mazdaznan's legacy post-World War II. In contrast, yoga steered clear of political entanglements, broadening its Western appeal and eventually became the standard for stretching exercises.

Forgotten Ancient Postures

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