Life, 1923-01-11 · page 11 of 36
Life — January 11, 1923 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Roman chariot and vehicle innovations, presented as if advertising a contemporary auto show. The cartoons humorously reimagine ancient Roman transportation using modern car-show language and promotions. The sketches reference specific Roman vehicles: "The Medusa" (ornate chariot), "The Janus-Julius" (all-weather car), and "Tin, the new metal from Britain" (featuring elephant shafts—a Persian innovation). Other panels show elaborate parade chariots and luxury vehicles with comedic price tags ("15,000 MINAE") and promotional slogans ("Swift as a Discus," "Save your ticket stubs"). The satire compares ancient Roman engineering ambitions to modern automobile marketing hype, suggesting that vanity-driven vehicle design is timeless. The pseudo-historical setting allows social commentary on contemporary car culture through ancient Rome's lens.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ASK THE MAN WHO'S BEEN YOU SEEN “ALL TIN "Ze | FORDUS 28 To Be Seen at the Annual Show (From the Chariot Section of the Rome Roman, 14 A. D.) he Medusa, 4 ig di gtase, for agcneral battling. Complete with extra set of 4. The last word in Greek luxury. The 2 Arabian h. p. Elysium. s, bloodguards, etc. 7 ; it i “Swi iscus” is i lendid slogan for this new The Janus-Julius all-year, all-element car. A novel feature of this “Swift as a Discus” is indeed a sp! 1 design is an attachable set of elephant shafts for Persian going. silent Gracchus. Consul body on a Spartacus chassis. 3. Tin, the new metal from Britain, has enabled the makers of the 6. Many will be eager to inspect this Vercingetorix after its record- breaking trip that required a maximum consumption of 12 horses and § drivers, new Fordus to offer an unusually attractive vehicle to the man with a limited income. comicbooks.com