The alternative view is very much a minority view. Fact is that pre-modern societies engaged in a great many behaviors we would regard as less-than-sanitary. Some Romans swished urine to whiten their teeth, for gods’ sakes.
The truth you might find more bizarre - the wealthy shipped in urine from people from modern-day Portugal, because it was believed that their climate and diet made for the most effective mouthwash-urine.
I wonder if you could bring some leaves off a tree from outside, or use a papyrus flyer you grabbed off the city wall. Whatever the options, I’ll bet that place reeked to high heaven.
I wonder if you could bring some leaves off a tree from outside, or use a papyrus flyer you grabbed off the city wall.
Doubt anyone would object to you bringing something in, though tearing off the city greenery may not be kosher. As for papyrus, I don’t know how comfortable it is compared to the alternatives, but there was cheap ‘low-grade’ papyrus used for wrapping. If papyrus is the route, I feel like it’s gonna be the cheap stuff.
Whatever the options, I’ll bet that place reeked to high heaven.
There was a Roman writer who lived on the same street as a public latrine who we have records of bitching about the smell (understandably). I thought it was Cicero, but if it is him, I can’t find it at the moment.
We used to dig a variation of these in the field when I was in the army. We called them screen latrines, and they were awful. I’d much rather have just gone out in the forest, but you can’t do that with 40 people, or the place quickly becomes a disease center.
Also communal sponges instead of toilet paper.
this is the actually gross part
I have never understood how that was accepted by the users. Not having a choice would help, but seriously, how was it ok?
A bit of googling suggests it might be a myth. Thank God!
The alternative view is very much a minority view. Fact is that pre-modern societies engaged in a great many behaviors we would regard as less-than-sanitary. Some Romans swished urine to whiten their teeth, for gods’ sakes.
Granted. Still it’s a big difference between your own urine and someone else’s feces.
The practice wasn’t swishing one’s own urine.
I’m guessing there were little boys involved
The truth you might find more bizarre - the wealthy shipped in urine from people from modern-day Portugal, because it was believed that their climate and diet made for the most effective mouthwash-urine.
Would you rather not wipe, or rather use a sponge that someone else has used? How about on day 4398 of no other options?
Choices: communal sponge, or private pottery shards.
… I might choose the sponge, even knowing about germ theory. At least after the first few dozen pottery shards.
I wonder if you could bring some leaves off a tree from outside, or use a papyrus flyer you grabbed off the city wall. Whatever the options, I’ll bet that place reeked to high heaven.
Doubt anyone would object to you bringing something in, though tearing off the city greenery may not be kosher. As for papyrus, I don’t know how comfortable it is compared to the alternatives, but there was cheap ‘low-grade’ papyrus used for wrapping. If papyrus is the route, I feel like it’s gonna be the cheap stuff.
There was a Roman writer who lived on the same street as a public latrine who we have records of bitching about the smell (understandably). I thought it was Cicero, but if it is him, I can’t find it at the moment.
We used to dig a variation of these in the field when I was in the army. We called them screen latrines, and they were awful. I’d much rather have just gone out in the forest, but you can’t do that with 40 people, or the place quickly becomes a disease center.
“The more things change, the more they stay the same”
Someday, Space Marines will be digging shit ditches on Mars.
Mmmm cursed sponge cake 😋