How did the Romans go to the toilet?

For many of us in the modern world, a conveniently located toilet that efficiently and safely removes our bodily waste is a luxury that we take for granted. If we were to step back in time, to approximately 2000 years ago, we would see that life for the ancient Romans was not always quite so easy.

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Credit:
Created by Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)

Narrator:

Chris Kane

Sources:

Hobson, B., 2009. Latrinae et foricae: toilets in the Roman world. London: Duckworth.

Jansen, G.C., 2003. Social distinctions and issues of privacy in the toilets of Hadrian's Villa. Journal of Roman Archaeology, 16, pp.137-152.

Koloski-Ostrow, A.. 2015. The Archaeology of Sanitation in Roman Italy: Toilets, Sewers, and Water Systems. The University of North Carolina Press

Magness, J. 2012. What’s the Poop On Ancient Toilets and Toilet Habits? Near Eastern Archaeology,75(2), 80-87. doi:10.5615/neareastarch.75.2.0080

Mitchell. D, Piers. Sanitation, Latrines and Intestinal Parasites in Past Populations

Ancient Rome: Facts and Fictions, Monica M. Bontty · 2020

[alfredthegreatkingofwessex]

0:52 - “So... did you watch the game last night?”

- “Shut up, Cassius”

[robinlaszlo]

I like to think your animator had a fun time drawing Roman dudes taking big dumps lmao

[juantwothree]

“Excuse me. If you’re done, can you pass me that sponge, please.”

[thescarlethunter]

Learning history makes you appreciate what we have today

[midnighttale]

This is the ultimate "I don't need sleep I need answers"

[GM-dgmj]

bruh i can only imagine the awkward eye to eye staring accompanied by the sound of farts and sharts

[Johnr]

Actually the Romans tollets used water from the Aquila Ducts which did work efficiently. The water running infront of it was used to cleaning themselves. And you could bring your own sponge. Which was probably fairly common at the time. Because even the Romans probably didn't like using other peoples sponge's.

[alvin]

“Urine played a vital role in cleansing cloth.

me: wait, what

[cannonball]

"Where is the Emperor?"
"He's on the throne. No, the other one".

[Wumbo]

I like how simple history is talking about a slightly disturbing topic while playing nice music in the background.

[applepiepieapple]

Even though this seems so primitive to us, the fact that the romans did what most in the middle ages couldn't so was astounding.

[DominikHatHunger]

A plague ravages the 21st century: People rush for toilet paper.
Ergo mihi, virum intelectualis: Tersorium

[kiuk_kiks]

So grateful for being born in an era of indoor plumbing, disinfectants and germ theory.

[antaxari]

Legend has it that they used to recognize each other by the fart's sound and smell.

[CivilWarWeekByWeek]

Well this is something I never thought I would want to know

[lvtheo_]

This is something I did not expect to pop up on my recommended list..

[fooforce]

This background music is so cheerful, too cheerful for the subject.

[oldthug]

Thank you for covering these important topics. I’m not sure what I would do without this information.

[d.esanchez]

Nostalgic: I miss the good old days...

Modern pumbing: No you dont

[DragonballBlack]

In the words of Randy Marsh
"I LOVE THE FUTURE!"