Say goodbye to privacy! #history #rome

[HistorybyMae]

EDIT: WHAT WAS THE USE OF THE SPONGE (Xylospongium)? Some commenters have pointed that that the sponge was actually used for cleaning toilets instead of wiping. This made me curious so I did a deep dive on the subject. There are four instances of the word being used in ancient sources and they are quite ambiguous. Essentially, it is described as an object used to clean ‘’what is hidden’’ or ‘’obscene’’. Traditionally, scholars have linked the sponge to cleaning private parts but recently, other academic have brought out the explanation that it was for brushing the latrine. One inscription in Ostia mentions to ‘’not forget using the xylospongium before leaving’’. It would seem more probably that the recommendation is to clean the toilet instead of private parts (since you wouldn’t need to remind people to clean their private area lol). Never thought I would be researching ancient toilet brushes so deeply but here we are haha. Final verdict? Depends on your interpretation. Maybe it was used purely for latrines, or maybe for both. Let the debate continue...

Taditionally, the explanation was that a Roman would sit down, take care of his business, rinse the sponge (xylospongium) with the waterstream in front of his seat (notice the small canal around the room) and then place his sponge in the bucket in the middle of the room for another person to use.

[CactusKitty]

This is literally something out of my nightmares. Like I have terrible dreams about this all the time

[ghiovannabernal]

I’m so glad people started discovering the feeling of disgust

[laridion]

Communal sponges were soaked in vinegar between uses to kill bacteria!! I'm not sure about washing actual debri off though. 😅

[FerralFireworks]

Can we please talk about how fabulous her outfit is!! ❤

[luisenflo]

Unfortunately, sadly, you are making a mistake.
Researchers began correcting this translation error several years ago. The Xylospongium, meanings in archeology: "a sponge attached to a wooden stick" used to clean Roman latrines; it is the forerunner of the modern toilet brush!
To clean the...special place...they used cloth, stones and the skin of garlic.
Sharing such a sponge would be very unhygienic, would spread diseases and could easily injure yourself.
The misconception that we shared a sponge for cleaning comes from a simple translation error. However, this was falsely established and is still claimed to this day.

[charlenawilliams]

Thankful for the time I was born.🙌🏾 I'm not built for this lifestyle. 🙅🏾‍♀️

[enchantedbelle]

I'm cracking up seeing her bow like that when showing us ancient Roman toilets 😂😂

[KroiAlbanoiArbanon]

Thanks for reminding me I shouldn't miss the "good old days".

[anupsoni]

in india some villages it also exists during 1980s

[Qjian]

“ shitting with the homies” ahh moment🗣️🔥🔥🔥

[grape-]

Poor Introverts were holding their shi- until everyone left 😭

[Madi_Blanch]

I went to Pompeii and they do the same thing. A tour guide once told me that they used to hold meetings in the bathrooms.

[Sunflowersarepretty]

Thank goodness i was born now. I absolutely need my privacy 😂 and no thanks i would never a sponge with anyone 😭😭

[dianalorani]

I can not imagine anyone smelling good after leaving the communal bathroom

[pauljoseph]

Life maybe hard AF nowadays, but no way I'd wanna live in that era. I love my bidet!

[WhatColourIsTheSkye]

It was also a place to socialise and discuss plans. Have fun in Rome Mae!
EDIT: Thanks for the likes everyone!!! Y’all made my day! 1.6K I’M FLABBERGASTED THANK YOU 😦😦😦

[Cody_Cigar]

Actually this one's not entirely true, there's scriptures reading that many toilets had wooden stalls between them, they just corroded away over time

[bluedeep]

Like in the military. There's was no privacy when doing your business. There were others sitting next to you. Fortunately, we had toilet paper....not communal sponge!😂😂😂

[AustinHarlow]

The worst thing a loner could possibly ever imagine 💀