Here's a fascinating and little-known fact related to hiring:
In ancient Rome, there was a job called a "funeral clown" (or archimimus). These individuals were professional impersonators hired to march in funeral processions, mimicking the deceased person's gestures, mannerisms, and even wearing a mask of their face. The belief was that this would placate the spirits of the dead and bring joy to the living. It was a well-paid and oddly prestigious role in Roman society, essentially the ancient world's specialized "memory actor" for hire!
