A research team here at The History Bluff unearthed a priceless relic from a forgotten corner of our museum. This artifact, which at first glance looks like King David’s sling, is in fact the ancient king’s jockstrap.
Before he became king of Israel, David was an athletic shepherd boy who, according to the Bible, killed a lion and bear with his bare hands. Obviously, to pull off such a feat, the shepherd boy needed full protection and uncompromising support. His needs were met by the jockstrap, which had been introduced just before his birth around 1030 B.C.
All of the paintings and sculptures of King David omit his jockstrap – most prominently in Michelangelo’s David. The great artist said that he chose to omit the sports equipment because he had had a bad experience with the garment and would rather not be reminded of the time he fell from a balcony and straddled a wall upon landing.
David was the first notable user of the jockstrap, but he certainly was not the last. Other historic figures to don the undergarment are Hannibal, Constantine, and Paul Revere. Teddy Roosevelt and his men tried a prototype of a hardened rubber jockstrap, which led to severe blistering – earning them the nickname of Rough Riders.
Danielle Hurst
1 year ago
Wow…this is very interesting….
Ron Bean
1 year ago
Ouch!
BTW, in the interest of the Bluff's never ending search for truth, your picture of David and Goliath is a fake. Goliath fell on his face, not on his back. Your picture no doubt was produced by revisionist historians.
TheHistoryBluff
1 year ago
Thank you, Ron for your comment. The Bible does not mention that before David cut off Goliath's head, the shepherd boy and three other Israelites rolled Goliath over so the cut could be made at the front of Goliath's throat – a religious requirement of the time. What you see in the picture is after Goliath was rolled over and David about to cut off Goliath's head.