Buzz
It’s easy to feel relieved when we think about outdated occupations, especially when they’re no longer needed. Who would want to be a leech-catcher or a plague doctor, right? The past may have been a grim and filthy era, and we often take comfort in how far we’ve come. Yet, there are a few truly fascinating old jobs that you likely never knew would be so intriguing to take on.
10. Bear Handler
There were two distinct types of bear leaders. One was probably the kind you imagine first, and it wasn’t exactly pleasant, because it was—quite literally—a person who led bears. The bears were typically muzzled, treated poorly, and paraded from city to city, town to town, performing for crowds. But that’s not the kind of bear leader we’re referring to here.
The other type of bear leader was more akin to a mentor or an old-fashioned chaperone, who guided the young heirs of noble or royal families on their Grand Tour. The term 'bear leader' was used because it compared the young aristocrats to trained bears, being led around by an older, wiser guide. There are numerous sketches and lithographs illustrating just that, with the young noble depicted as a curious bear on a leash.
The Grand Tour was a tradition where sheltered young aristocrats were exposed to the cultures of foreign lands. This practice was most popular in the 18th century, and it was no trivial affair. English nobility would often embark on a Grand Tour lasting up to three years, traveling through Italy, France, and Germany, visiting key historical and religious landmarks. The bear leader’s role was not only to impart knowledge of history, religion, and other essential life lessons but also to ensure that the young travelers avoided trouble and understood what was socially acceptable in the countries they visited.
The effectiveness of bear leaders in keeping their charges out of trouble is open to interpretation, but who wouldn’t want to spend several years exploring the scenic European countryside?
9. Daguerreotypist
The invention of photography wasn’t an overnight breakthrough. In 1839, Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre revolutionized France with his daguerreotypes, named after himself. These were far more than mere photographs; they were printed on silver-plated copper sheets, giving them a striking, almost three-dimensional quality. The images were sharp and vibrant, and even today, they retain a magical, otherworldly charm. Daguerre eagerly showcased his invention to both the artistic and scientific worlds, and everyone adored it.
By the 1850s, daguerreotypists were working on both sides of the Atlantic, turning it into a thriving and lucrative trade. The most skilled artists established upscale studios in major cities such as London, New York, and San Francisco. These daguerreotypists were responsible for capturing significant moments in history. Mathew B. Brady was one of the leaders in the field, photographing presidents, writers, performers, and top military figures in his studio.
Though it was highly sought after by the elite, the process was also remarkably accessible to the general public. Daguerreotypists preserved faces that would go down in history in a lasting medium, while also creating cherished family mementos and portraits for everyday people. If you've ever wanted to preserve history in a way that endures far beyond a selfie, this might just be the career for you.
8. Lector
Do you have a captivating voice and a passion for teaching? You might want to consider becoming a lector.
Lectors were mainly employed in cigar factories to break up the monotony of the workday. Sitting in the center of the room, they would read aloud from a variety of sources. Whether it was books, novels, or newspapers, they often earned more than the workers they read to. Lectors held a unique role in the factory—they were respected by the workers and, at times, a bit feared by the owners.
Since many of the factory workers were illiterate, they relied heavily on the lectors for information. The lectors often had the power to choose what they would read, which gave them significant influence over the workers. While factory owners generally allowed them to read whatever they and the workers preferred, it wasn't uncommon for certain materials to be off-limits if they were considered too radical. This could backfire on the factory, especially if the lector had strong support from the workers. Interfering with a popular lector could lead to slower production or even strikes.
By the 1920s, workers were becoming more organized and educated, and technology was becoming increasingly available. Lectors were slowly replaced by radios, though some continued to read aloud in public spaces instead of factories.
7. Herb-Woman
History, in many ways, was a rather grim place. Modern conveniences like indoor plumbing are a fairly recent development. Before we figured out how to maintain cleanliness, we had to get inventive. If you were royalty, that meant you could afford to hire an herb-woman.
Also known as an “herb strewer,” the herb-woman’s role was to distribute fresh herbs, plants, and flowers throughout a household to keep the air smelling pleasant. Because they worked in the private chambers of the family they served, these high-ranking flower arrangers gained a close relationship with the royalty they worked for. The position, first established by Charles I in 1660, remained a staple of the royal household until the last herb-woman, Mary Rayner, departed in 1836.
George IV appeared to have a special fondness for herb-women. Anne Fellows, a close friend of the king, was appointed as herb-woman and even led his coronation procession, accompanied by her six attendants. They were dressed in the finest attire, with a detailed description of the coronation depicting her white satin gown trimmed with scarlet and a lavish headpiece of laurel leaves and grapes. The herb-woman and her attendants also left behind a path of fresh flowers for the procession to walk on.
6. Dahomey Amazon
This job is a bit of a trade-off, and truth be told, you'd need a certain mindset to truly thrive as one of the elite female soldiers of the Dahomey. Despite the tough training and even tougher battles, the rewards were well worth it.
For much of history, women had limited choices, and those were often less than ideal. However, the third-ranking wives of King Gezo of Dahomey had a different path. While they weren’t considered attractive enough to fulfill their wifely duties, they were highly valued in other ways. According to tradition, these women were allowed to stay in the palace overnight and were entirely devoted to their king—without dealing with the complications of a typical marital relationship.
One account claims that the female soldiers originally came from a group of hunters who had impressed the king with their skill in hunting elephants, leading him to recruit them into the army. Another story suggests that, faced with a weakened army, the king had no choice but to enlist women as soldiers alongside men. Regardless of how they began, the Dahomey Amazons became legendary. Their first documented appearance in history dates back to 1729, during a siege of a port city. By the end of King Gezo's reign, there were about 6,000 female soldiers, all actively fighting alongside male troops.
The training was grueling, pushing the women to their physical limits. They endured extreme endurance tests, pain tolerance challenges, wrestling matches, climbing through thorny hedges, and throwing prisoners of war into bloodthirsty mobs. But once you made it, you were set—many women fought for a place in the army, as it offered a much better life than the alternative. The female soldiers resided in the king’s compound, each with a group of slaves at their service. Some had as many as 50 servants, and they were always accompanied by a bell-ringer, signaling their arrival and clearing the way. To touch one of them was to risk death.
The exact date of the last Dahomey Amazon’s death remains uncertain, but it’s believed that some survivors of the final conflict with the French forces may have lived until the 1970s after the last battle.
5. Augur
Ever dreamt of bird-watching with the added thrill of influencing vast matters of importance? Then consider becoming an augur. This Roman title referred to a diviner who would interpret the will of the gods by observing the flight patterns and songs of birds. The role was also known as ‘auspex.’ Over time, the term ‘auspex’ came to describe the act of watching the birds, while ‘augur’ referred to interpreting the meanings behind their actions.
For much of history, no major event took place without the counsel of a diviner, giving augurs considerable power. The belief was that the gods, concerned for humanity, sent signs through birds to guide people's decisions. Ignoring those blessed with the ability to interpret these divine messages was considered an act of disbelief in the gods. Over time, each culture developed its own unique form of divination, but while astrology was seen as risky by the Romans, their method of auspicia was regarded as sacred.
The practice of predicting the future by studying bird behavior predates Rome, but it was the Romans who formalized the rules. Birds, considered sacred messengers of Jupiter, were believed to convey divine guidance through their flight. Ravens and crows, known as ‘Oscines,’ were studied by augurs who interpreted their calls, while the flight of eagles and vultures was analyzed by ‘Alites.’ Military decisions were based on the reading of chickens’ behavior during feeding time.
4. Egyptian Scribe
Being a scribe doesn’t always have the best reputation, often tied to medieval monks laboriously copying texts and adding humorous little notes in the margins. But in ancient times, the skill of writing was deeply respected. The ancient Egyptians even linked the ability to write with their ibis-headed god Thoth, who also recorded the fate of each individual after death—whether good or evil. Becoming a scribe in ancient Egypt wasn’t easy, but once you made it, you had significant power. The tools of the scribe were so valuable that even Tutankhamun was buried with them.
Since literacy was limited in ancient Egypt, scribes were a crucial part of society and held access to vast amounts of information. Their work wasn’t just about copying sacred texts; they wrote everything from personal letters and wills to diplomatic messages, covering all aspects of life—economic, religious, personal, and beyond. It’s said that, of all professions, scribes were the ones with the most knowledge about what was happening throughout the realm.
When writing was invented around 3000 B.C., being a scribe was closely tied to high social rank. There was a structured hierarchy within the scribal profession, where beginners learned to copy simple sentences, while the most skilled scribes wrote the sacred hieroglyphs, which were reserved for religious and official use. Those who excelled could rise to great power within the government. One prominent scribe, Amenophis, served beside several rulers, organizing not only military and civilian affairs but overseeing Egypt’s grand construction projects, including temples and statues. In fact, scribes were behind the organization of Egypt’s entire infrastructure.
There’s even a famous statue of one in the Louvre.
3. Ale-Conner
Every year, four ale-conners are still appointed in London, but today it’s more of a ceremonial role than an actual position. It’s a shame, though, as anyone with a love for beer would relish the chance to be an ale-conner.
The role of the ale-conner had several interpretations. Beginning in the 1300s, ale-conners were appointed officials tasked with ensuring that pubs and taverns were selling beer that met quality standards. If the beer didn’t pass muster, the ale-conner could end up in court for selling subpar brews. Ale-conners also ensured that drinks were sold at the correct price, which in some areas was fixed by law. It was a serious position, and those chosen to fill it swore an oath to do their duties with integrity: “So God help you and the saints,” they would vow before assuming the role.
While it’s most likely that ale-conners tested the local ale using traditional methods, a fascinating legend has grown around the role. According to this tale, their uniform would include leather pants. (Even today, modern ale-conners wear leather pants as a tribute to the story.) Upon entering a tavern, they would order a pint, pour a bit on the seat, and sit in it for about 30 minutes. If they were able to stand up afterward, the ale was considered good. However, if they were stuck to the seat, it meant the beer had too much sugar, indicating incomplete fermentation, which resulted in a much lower alcohol content and an inferior product.
Despite the legends, the ale-conner played a significant role in English society. By the time Henry V took the throne in 1413, brewers would place an ale-stake in front of their establishments when they wanted a batch of beer approved. This stake became so symbolic of quality alcohol that it grew increasingly larger, until local regulations were put in place to prevent ale-stakes from obstructing traffic in front of taverns and breweries. Only after an ale-conner inspected the brew could it be sold, with or without restrictions, depending on the ale’s quality.
2. Bardi
The bardi were a prestigious subset of druids, highly regarded within their society. Unlike the strictly religious druids, the bardi were poets and storytellers, the British counterparts to magicians. They were often from the most prominent families and played a key role in educating the children of nobility and tribal leaders. Although much of druidic practices remain shrouded in mystery, it's known that their religious structure was divided into three categories: the druidae were the religious leaders and priests, the vates were the seers and fortune-tellers, and the bardi were the storytellers.
In essence, the bardi enjoyed the advantages of being druids without having to engage in the more grisly tasks of the vates. The vates employed various methods to predict the future, some of which were gruesome. Historical records from Gaul suggest that a sacrificial victim would be stabbed in the stomach, with the future divined from the body’s convulsions and the blood’s patterns as it spilled. Meanwhile, the bardi were primarily poets and musicians, responsible for recording the heroic feats of their clans, preserving genealogical histories, and teaching the younger generation.
In certain regions, the bardi also held some divinatory powers, but their expertise was in specific spells and charms. They were particularly skilled in gathering snakes' eggs, knowing the exact time, method, and lunar phase for collecting them. These eggs were thought to have magical properties and were used as charms to win the favor of royalty.
1. Abecedarian
Whether you love the study of letters or find it tedious, there’s a certain aspect of being an abecedarian that could appeal to you. Traditionally, an abecedarian is someone tasked with teaching the alphabet, but it can also refer to someone learning it. They’re responsible for introducing the fundamentals, the building blocks essential for advancing in education.
However, if you’re not a fan of learning, you might want to explore a different path as an abecedarian. In 1522, Nicholas Storch began to promote a radical interpretation of Christianity. His followers believed that true knowledge was only that which came directly from God, delivered through visions, voices, or other divine means. Knowledge gained through human learning was seen as sinful, and to remain pure and open to God’s word, people had to reject all earthly education.
According to this belief, followers were even required to be ignorant of the first three letters of the alphabet—a strange idea that, ironically, gave the movement its name. The Bible was believed to contain all necessary wisdom for a righteous life, and reading it independently was considered blasphemous, as it distorted God’s word. Studying theology was deemed even worse. So, if you’re looking for a life where *not* studying is part of the job, being an abecedarian might be just the path for you.
