In Ancient Roman triumphal parades, so the belief goes, victorious generals were followed by a slave repeatedly whispering the words ‘memento mori’ to remind the feted commander of his own mortality and to warn him against slipping into complacency.
In the Rome of 2024, a similar service can be provided by disinterested locals who happen to find their regular routine impeded by the aftermath of the Giro d’Italia.
