'Emperor-shaped soap' is on sale at the British Museum for £9.99
Credit: Stephen Wood
The British Museum is selling “emperor-shaped soap” in the mould of Julius Caesar – who was never an emperor.
Vegetable-based soap shaped like the Roman general’s head is on sale in the museum’s gift shop as part of a new exhibition.
The £9.99 product,which is perfumed with bay and rosemary,has been advertised as “emperor-shaped soap” on a museum sign.
Caesar,despite being one of the most famous figures of the Roman empire,died before its leaders were called emperors.
Dominic Sandbrook,a historian,said the museum would be “kicking itself” over the mistake.
The co-host of The Rest is History podcast told The Telegraph: “Everyone thinks that Julius Caesar was the first emperor but he really wasn’t.
“If you asked 10 people in the street,nine of them would probably say that he was an emperor. It’s probably the most common mistake in history you can make.”
He added: “I imagine the British Museum is kicking themselves.
“I would expect them to know that Augustus was the first emperor,but everyone is human and makes mistakes.”
Caesar was a Roman general and statesman who led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before becoming a dictator.
After his assassination,his adopted heir Octavian,later known as Augustus,became the first emperor of the Roman Empire.
The soap is made by Bridie Hall,a London-based designer
The soap,which is made by Bridie Hall,a London-based designer,is on sale as part of the exhibition ‘Legion: Life in the Roman Army’.
It focuses on the 300,000 troops who made up the Roman army and features human remains,armour,and coins.
On the historical error,a spokesman for the museum said: “We’re talking to our retail team about the labelling for this product.”
It comes after the museum was accused of sexism earlier this year after it suggested women should “walk around looking confused” to attract men at its new Roman exhibition.
The museum attempted to promote the exhibition in an Instagram post by referring to a TikTok trend that showed women asking their husbands,boyfriends and fathers how often they thought of the Roman Empire – and expressing bewilderment when the answer was “every day”.
Any single woman going to the exhibition,the now-deleted post suggested,would find a phalanx of single men anxious to explain pilums,centurions and the testudo formation.
The post read: “Girlies,if you’re single and looking for a man,this is your sign to go to the British Museum’s new exhibition,Life in the Roman Army,and walk around looking confused. You’re welcome x.”
Academics were among those to accuse the museum of sexism on social media.
The museum apologised and said it did not intend the post to be taken seriously.
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