How did people back in Ancient times clip their nails?

Question

What kinds of things did they do in Ancient Rome and what not? Did they file down their finger and toenails? that sounds painful...

Answer 1

Many actually used a rock to file down the nails on their hands and feet.

Answer 2

probabily bit their finger nails and used there hands to cut down the toe nails. if you wanted to get fancy they probabily used smooth pebbles. I once did an experiment with a very rounded granite pebble i found near a river. I didn't have my nail file with me and I was desperate so and to see if i could file my nails with it. It worked excellently well  and i was very pleased with the result it was better than my file.

Answer 3

Maybe the plebes worked so hard they didn't need to cut them, and the aristocracy grew them as a sign of the leisure class. Women still have long nails even though they don't signify not having to work.

Mabye they used pumice to file their nails, or pared them with a knife?

Answer 4

They worked a lot, so I bet their nails broke. Why not ask a construction worker or a mechanic how they clip their nails? Personally I bite my toe nails after a shower, lol. My finger nails break.

Answer 5

i bet they bit them