Public Latrines in Ancient Rome
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 พ.ค. 2024
- Almost every Roman city had large public latrines, where many people - often 20 or more - could relieve themselves in remarkably opulent settings. This video explores how the use, decoration, and (many) hazards of Rome's latrines.
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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:33 Private toilets
1:34 Chamber pots
2:01 Public latrines
3:58 Woosh Drains!
4:21 How to use a Roman latrine
5:09 The infamous sponge
6:00 How dirty were latrines?
7:05 Conclusion
Thanks for watching!
![[UNCUT] ฝันรักห้วงนิทรา | EP.3 (1/4)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zVXAFD1OLZg/mqdefault.jpg)
I don't think I've ever seen a local business sponsor a TH-cam video before. It's rather refreshing.
Woosh Pipe & Drains > Raid Shadow Legends
Yes, I'm very glad Steve was willing to give it a try. I'd much rather help a small business than be just another member of a huge corporate ad campaign.
@@chillzedd8179 hell yeah
@@toldinstone I almost made a call, but apparently he is not serving in the Netherlands.
Now imagine a plumber cleaning out these latrines. Can't think of much worse jobs. Although they prolly had slaves to do that.
I didn't fast forward through it.... It was pretty neat
I am delighted to learn that the art of leaving messages in public bathrooms is, in fact, ancient.
They paint these walls to silence my pen....but the shit house poet strikes again!
😂
LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL!
@@ynp1978 lmao
@John Smith 😂😂😂😂
The things we don't even realize we take for granted. These obscure pieces of history are SO fascinating to me.
Oh believe me! I DON'T take any of this for granted!! I have always researched about these kinds of things. so interesting.
Evidently you've never shit inside a Walmart or Dollar Tree because those bathrooms make these look like something from the plaza hotel. I've been gawked at countless times mid-wipe and walked in on as someone easily pushed through the stall door that was modified with a fucking chain lock they grabbed from the hardware section.
They still do it in India in 2022
Fascinating to me also!
Maybe they should make a toilet history museum, how would you like that?
This is one of those things that makes me grateful to live in modern times more than any other bit of trivia
i would rather live then lol
@@oneshortgamer2540Why?
@@sweetestaphrodite mainly curiosity and fro all studies, i want to experience their life
@@oneshortgamer2540you have lived that life. In your past lives. We all have.
having the tolilets randomly shoot flame is definitely one way to get everyone to use them faster I guess
As someone with IBS I feel attacked
I remember the toilets we had in Desert Shield. They were .. communal .. and the receptacle was the bottom of a 55 gal drum filled with diesel. One of the duties we got was to pull the receptacles out and burn the contents. That was not that bad in the winter as long as you kept upwind.
@@eTraxx I worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in a Central Asian village where everyone had outhouses. I used to tease my neighbors if anyone in the village had ever fallen into the hole in the wooden floor we used. They loved that quirky question -- only a foreigner would think of that, I used to hear xD
Perhaps this is where the expression, "flaming a**hole" came from! ;
at least explosions would get rid of the smell, albeit temporarily.
You have to appreciate modern plumbing... I couldn't imagine octopi, snakes, explosions and wiping with rocks! Ouch. Another great video. Educational and Entertaining as always.
Thanks for the sponsorship, it was like a breath of fresh air. 👍
octopodes (pron. octo-POH-deez); no such word as 'octopi'.
Loved the sponsorship!
Thanks for sponsoring this video. A few years ago I was curious about toilets in other parts of the world. What did people do before there was toilet paper?
There are squat toilets in Japan. In the desert there are holes. People bring a cup of water and clean themselves with their left hand. A sign of disrespect is if they offer to shake your left hand.
@@21stcenturyozman20 deez? Deez nuts?
"Pardon me sir, but could I wash my hands in that basin?" "Of course, just as soon as I finish washing this ass sponge".....
😂
"Oh splendid! Mind if I park my used ass stones here while I wait?"
I’m 72 and remember using an outhouse at my best friends home. It was very strange seeing all the poop and stuff at the bottom and we used a seers catalog to wipe with. In the summer it was smelly and in the winter it was very cold.
seers possibly should have their own catalog too but likely the company " Sears" provided the toilet paper unwittingly...
Squatting is good for you. It develops muscles and prevents hemorrhoids.
Having worked in the wastewater industry for 20 years it always interests me how different civilizations deal with the inevitable waste of large populations in one place. The Romans seemed to have had a pretty good infrastructure and understanding that buildup of sewage is a main factor in disease transmission. An insight which is exceedingly obvious to us today but as recently as early Victorian London was . complete mystery.
The Arab world was the first to have flushing toilets, as far as I know. I'm surprised it took the rest of the world a while to catch on.
@@SuWoopSparrow really? That's fascinating! Whereabouts and when?
The Roman idea of balancing the "humours" in the body led to be some surprisingly effective medicine, though it was succesful by accident. Part of the Renassance was the rediscovery of Roman medical knowledge. There was an account from the Crimean War of the fire normally used to cauterise amputations going out, so the doctor was "reduced to" using a roman ointment containing wine and egg whites (I imagine, in the 19th century British Army, that rum was substituted for the wine), and tying off the blood vessels with silk string. When he checked later, all the soldiers who'd haf the Roman treatment were sleeping peacefully, while all the ones who'd been cauterised with red-hot metal were in agony or dead.
Of course we have a natural aversion to such horrible smells, but it's interesting how some ancient communities came together so they didn't have to toss their excrement onto the street (and sometimes each other). I don't think the romans really had an advanced understanding of how sewage caused diseases though.
@@a.wenger3964 They just knew that it was nasty and stanky!
The fact that even something like Bathroom Graffiti has its own ancient history is what I find extraordinarily amusing.
*BIGGVS DICKVS SHAT HERE*
Right... Hahah that was funny
and the fact that a doctor was writing how well he crapped lmao he was like "damn thats the biggest shit ive ever taken gotta leave a note on the wall"
@@steelwitness and now some random dude is laughing at it in 2022. And nodding with approval of it
"here i sit all broken hearted, tried to shit but only farted." i wonder just old that line is?
common indoor plumbing and chocolate are the two things i'm most thankful for living in "modern" times. otherwise we're pretty much just as screwed up as they were 2000 years ago. oh, i am glad crucifixion has fallen out of favor.
I have a house built in 1886, and I found a chamber pot in the ditch in the backyard with my metal detector. People have been using those things right up to the days when modern plumbing started being installed. Haha
Life's modern comforts in developed countries! I was just thinking how lucky we are to not be dealing with this in ancient times, yet many poor countries actually still do 😔
septic tank?
Definitely, 2 of my grandparents grew up without modern plumbing. Chamber pots and outhouses/long drops were standard.
That's not an old house mate
I used them in the 70s on the farm
That was the only in-video ad I haven’t skipped through
Without the statues and marble floors, I just can't perform. Seriously, though, my underground terra cotta pipes have tree roots in them -- not fun. Thanks, Steve and Toldinstone!
About the statues and marble floors, no. About the terra cotta sewer line, yes -- clay pipes were commonly used for underground sewer lines until the 50's and 60's. Still are in some places. It's usually more common in places where it can be manufactured locally, since it is heavy. My line is 4 inches inner diameter, 4 foot lenghts, with mortared bell end joints. The roots work their way into the joints to find the sweet stuff inside. Sorry if this is more than you wanted to know.
@@unclejoe7466 fascinating
Bulshit, there where wooden partitions. These stories are made up by what Romans called barbarian
@@patrickgaimari4478 The Vandals kept breaking the partitions.
You’d think shy bladder syndrome would be more of an issue under the gaze of statues…
Imagine deciding to build a private latrine but then you just feel like a two seater would be more preferable.
Couples who shit together stay together.
...and you can share your sponge with whoever joins you xD lol
romans liked being sociable, you'd want to have someone to talk philosophy and military strategy with for entertainment. And since women used the same toilets, who knows? you might meet the girl of your dreams and get a sneak preview to boot.
@@nullifye7816 I heard romans liked to breath and eat as well.
@@nullifye7816 that's funny, but takes all the mystery out, doesn't it!!🤔🇦🇺
I lived in a farmhouse when I was a child that had stood there and rebuilt in parts several times over since Middle ages. The outside toilet in a small brick built room slightly separate from the main house had a porcelain WC from the late Victorian era in it but its construction was very clearly an earth closet. I used it often and interesting that in its original form Medieval monks had used that very same small room for the very same purpose.
In which country?
@@lede1810 England
@@brianthesnail3815 wow, sounds interesting. Thanks!
medieval abbeys in the UK had large communal latrines just like the romans did. with running water under it to take the waste away.
@@Herr_Flick_of_ze_Gestapo Yes Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire is near where my parent's farmhouse was. Our farm belong to the monks of Fountains Abbey back in the middle ages and acted as a sort of stopping off guest house when they were travelling. We still had the special carved stones near the front door that were the sign that it was a safe place to stay.
I think what is even more impressive is the modern open air public latrine design in San Fransico.
🤣
Nothing makes pooping more pleasant than direct eye contact with your homies.
👁️👄👁️
@@shayalynn :^)
Learning about ancient toilets really make you appreciate modern plumbing
By thumbnail my bottom is too big for that tiny hole
Thank you africa
I'm a civil engineer and and 'modern' plumbing isn't really that modern at all. Same mechanics as past 150+ years. place water in a high tower creating gravitational water pressure, to the underlying buildings and taps. No electricity, heat or digital computers needed!! remarkable
Actually the plumbing works made by Romans was top of the class, probably better than some crappy plumbing you can see sometimes today...
I remember these in the u.s. army barracks. They caused a lot of consternation, and constipation until absolutely necessary, and gotten used to.
That bit at the end about Fortuna cracked me up. Great video!
Something most people don’t talk about in conversation, but something that everyone has to deal with. An amazing video as always.
Not all do. But those who don’t… oh, they really badly wish they did.
@@leonardodavid2842 what??
@@organ9998 his mind just switched off there for 5 secs and he scribbled that
Another thing about the Roman Empire is how it fulfilled the role of the beast from the sea in Revelation 13. Revelation 17 confirms that it is in fact Rome. There is a website called "RevelationTimelineDecoded" that explains this, there is also a video here on youtube called "From Babylon to America" by SchoolForProphets. What we can conclude from this is that A) God is real and Jesus is His son, not only that but He can predict the future or make it happen or B) The Nations, governments, and rulers have been conspiring together for the last 3000+ years to accomplish this strange "roadmap" setup by the Israelites. It is still ongoing to with th rebirth of Israel in 1948 to the allying of Russia and Iran (Gog and Magog + Persia) to the new RFID microchips that Sweden is testing out right now.
You don't really need to speculate on this because you can start a relationship with God and have proof. Pray for Him to intervene in your life and look for the motion of His hand. Take full advantage of every moment you have to better yourself and the others around you. Repent and follow Jesus!
@@BlokeBritish lol he is making a joke about constipation... How do people not get that?
"chamber pot shrapnel" sounds like a metal band
They’d be the opening act to cradle of filth:
I love the tracks
1. "Ode to the Porcelain Throne"
2. "Sharin' the Bowl with Beelzebub" and 3. "Don't Drop the Dookie in the Mosh Pit" from the first album
AWESOME!! THANK YOU!!! THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING!! and thanks for the SPONSOR also!!!
Some scholars believe that the sponge was use to clean the facilities, not for cleaning every user after sitting on them, like it is done today in some places.
The plumbing ad is honestly fantastic
One popped up on me too.
"Please pass the sponge."
"Be patient, there are a few people ahead of you."
(I've heard that there may have been small music groups in the larger latrines, where the music would cover up all the gas noises.)
never happened. its a myth
😂
😅😅😅😅😅
The Army used these into the late 80’s at basic training sites, in particular Ft. Campbell, KY.
The Romans had these 2,000 years ago and New York City still doesn't have them.
I work in construction in London, which was then but a glint in the eye of the venerable Roman empire . Clay pipes from our Victorian era, and occasionally earlier, are still doing sterling service, where undisturbed, to most of the suburbs of this city.
Please don't knock the humble fired clay sewage pipe. When properly buried, you can generally leave it alone for 100+ years with minimal maintenance.
In New York, they are still using some wooden pipes from the colonial era.
@@clarkpagels5471 Wow. I had no idea, being from Queens myself. Do you per chance know what kind of wood??
@@sagapoetic8990 stinkwood?
Its new york I'm sure they recycle. Wooden salad bowl anyone?
😂
Ok, kudos for making this topic, entertaining. Octupus, snakes, flames, advice and graffiti. At least the last item hasn't changed since then.
Too much time to contemplate while you're sitting there. LOL
Yes, and at 5:38, the movie "Demolition Man" was right to have three shells at their latrines, who woulda thunk it? 🤣🤣
Such a great idea for a video. I never knew I wanted to know this until now.
Very well-done video. Thanks!
These Roman latrines are very similar to the toilet facilities at an army camp I had the pleasure of attending in Cultybraggan in Scotland. The structure consisted of a long clay (not terracotta regretably) pipe approximately two feet in diameter with a hole every four feet or so with burlap between each aperture to ensure one's privacy and comfort. Water constantly flowed through the pipe to remove its contents. On occasion some of the camp's more mischevious inhabitants would activate a ThunderFlash (military grade pyrotechinical device) and float it in the flowing sewage so that its explosive nature might entertain or even motivate the latrine's occupants.
My dad once told me that when he was a young man, he and some friends went to Mexico. They found a place that had a stream of water flowing along the bottom of the bar. After a while they noticed that the locals "Used" this steam. It was a very public urinal! You didn't have to leave, and could keep on drinking while doin' your thing! My mom yelled at him for telling me about it.
LOL!
cultybraggan, have visited in 1980s while on exercise, a very basic site!
Roman life in general, for the vast majority of Romans, was unpleasant, dim, crowded and reeking. So the opportunity to do one's business in the relative "comfort" of their public latrines must have seemed, to the "average" Roman, to be one of the hall marks of an advanced civilization.
True indeed. It can be argued living a seemingly hunter gatherer life was and still is the best for human liberty.
@@mauriceschaeffer5070 and decreased parasitical load!
pretty sure the ideas of personal space, hygiene and cleanliness most certainly inherited from the Roman practices, though rudimental, gave us public bathrooms, spas and bathing everyday. Hunter gatherers on the other hand have to put up with things we modern people will never imagine doing.
@@reeyees50 if you've ever been camping (properly, not in horrendous 'organised' camp sites) you'll know that crapping in nature is one of the more pleasant and sustainable ways of dealing with human waste. just like a traditional outhouse, solid and liquid waste is separated leading to very little bad smell, and excrement quickly biodegrades and makes excellent compost.
@@daos3300 im colombian, you get flies up yo ass when crapping in the wild. Cant relax or read. All you can do is get it done as quickly as possible and more on. Pure barbarism
Fantastic video, informative, a few anecdotes and funny! Thanks
Great video and added comments to bring some humor to this subject.
Honestly this situation is far better than what I experienced in the 70's on Indian reservations. A wood shack with 10 holes cut-out and both men and women sat there. Scary as heck for a kid to go inside that thing.
sorry to hear that mate!
Did you wipe with rocks? Were there fiery explosions? Animals coming out of those holes? I very much doubt it was worse than these in the video. Bad, yes. Worse? Nah
@@agirlisnoone5953 Really?! As a 7 year old kid seeing adult genitals was scary.
@@socalindi8241 yeah, but not worse than the Romans.
@@socalindi8241 Nice of "no one," who experienced neither circumstance, to tell you how bad you really didn't have it.
I mis-read the title as ‘Public libraries in ancient Rome’. An occupational hazard, I still watched.
These videos are always terrific.
Great video. Liked and subscribed and thanks!
Imagine sitting next to a guy today on an open toilet latrine.
You: Watching TH-cam
Other Guy: “Hey… watcha (grunt followed by splash) watchin’?”
Lmao
5:30 so the 3 seashells from demolition man were actually a retro throwback lmao
One of my fave things about this video is the local sponsor. Nice.
Loved the video. Loved the local ad. Bought the book. What can I say? Job well done
“He doesn’t know how to use the 3 seashells!”
I was just about to put the same comment!!......Great minds think alike!
Shout out to Steve in Queens. I hope he gets some business from this! It's a great video idea :D
Steve is number one in the number two business.
Such an unusual and charming sponsorship!
You may not have an snake in your toilet but call Steve if you need to snake out your plugged toilet.
Modern toilets:
*Goes into private stall*
"Eww gross"
Ancient toilets:
*Enters communal bathroom*
"Hey bro, didn't think I'd see you here could you pass me the communal sponge?"
"Sure. AYO WHAT DA OCTOPUS DOIN!?"
BOOOOOOOOM
*THE WHOLE FUCKING PLACE BLOWS UP*
There’s a large, communal latrine at one of the live fire ranges at Fort Irwin . Scariest thing was thinking about a black widow spider crawling onto you.
Very interesting sponsor! for the first time ever I wish i had a reason to support that business because they're supporting a creator I like. I guess your average sponsor (like Raycon - high quality wireless headphones that rival any major brand) does the same thing but, it never has the honest ring to it that Woosh does on this one.
This the first time that I whole heartedly stand behind an advertisement in a youtube video. Very nice sponsorship idea.
thank you for this glorious content!!!
This reminds me of the latrines we had in basic training! ha ha ha
The fine art of trying to make conversation while taking a wicked dump.
About 20 years ago, I was in Italy and visiting my Aunt's who's house goes back over 100 years, but renovated up to current standards. They still kept the out house as a memorial and amazing to see that. A simple thing we take for granted and 100 years ago, they had to dump outside. My gramps made a foot pump bidet where a barrel of rain water was used to clean up. What started as a stone house, now has electricity, indoor plumbing, radiant heat only due to no duct work and a paved road in front. We piss and moan about the silliest things now. Trying going back 100 or so years and enjoy shitting in a pit and dirty water pumped from a well or the whole family sharing the same basin for washing.
@David u r not far far far from the truth
@David true, but her, my dad and other 2 siblings, plus their dad lived into 90s living with bare necessities
if X-rebels get their way we'll be going back further than that to save the planet!
My grandma's house (where I lived for a good half of my childhood) had an outhouse even 25 years ago!
My parents have an "optional" one (in addition to indoor plumbing) even now! And my school had a communal outhouse sort of like this one, too 😶 (No wonder I preferred to "hold it in" for 6 hours!) 😄
My mom has told me the exact same situation for when she visited family in spain in the country side in the 1960's! No running water, to electricity, and a hole in the ground to do your business. How far we have come, its amazing the privilege's we have now.
3:30 imagine just writing on a wall that you had a good shit one day and archeologists 2000 years later discover it
Steve at Woosh Drain in NY is a fkkn legend for sponsoring this.
Brilliant, both for advertising and informative value.
That has to be one of the best sponsor spots I've ever seen. If I ever need plumbing done in queens I'll know who to call.
Garrett, I really want to thank you for broaching this subject that is often overlooked. In our modern movies, TV shows and everywhere else, we never seem to see what people do when they have to poop, especially when they are constipated or have diarrhea.
Archaeologists and historians have found drawings of ancient folks having sex and what have you. I'm pretty sure there has to be drawings of folks pooping somewhere!!
Interesting video, thanks for teaching me something!
I came here to learn fascinating facts about roman latrines but that thing about going to the toilet being a whole hazard filled adventure really cracks me up. imagine a group of people relieving themselves when suddenly their toilets exploded! must have made a fine mess!
"...gouts of flame roaring through the seats" Lol!
Speaking as someone who experiences bathroom anxiety, this video is fascinating. Ancient Romans were much braver than I would be in that situation!
What is bathroom anxiety?
@@bahtois4741 a luxury of the modern world
@@greenfroggood2392 ahahha. Agreed. I'll subscribe to you because you made my day.
*Emily Simons* - Why would you have 'bathroom anxiety'? Are you afraid of bathing?
Just fart really loud and the anxiety disappears.
Astoria used to be so great. I'm from Forest Hills, but my Mom's family live in Astoria for many years. My Uncle Jow owned Kopp's Animal Hospital. I still have friends in Queens so I will share your plumbing service information with them.
I heard once on a tour of a public Roman toilet that those sponges on a stick to clean up.....were handed around. All used the same sponges and only rinsed them afterwards. This piece of information has really.....impressed me
The smell of emptying of the chamber pot out the window is similar to the streets of San Francisco.
I don’t think he was trying to be racist. It’s just than San Fran has a huge population of homeless individuals that have no access to toilets. And so there is a lot of public urination and dedication on the city streets. Not blaming on race or anything. It’s really such a sad situation.
same thing in Santa Monica i learned the hard way a month ago
You can use the waste to power Energy Powerplant!
The people I’ve seen in San Francisco are from all races. I don’t think the comment was racist but rather indicative of the stench such a large homeless population creates. Your comment is an example of overuse of the accusation and hence it’s loss of any significant value.
@@thelastboomer9088 what are you talking about? You are reading into something that exists only in your mind. Quit with the race card. You sound like have fallen victim to the propaganda. The streets of San Francisco is a cess pool of filth. Go there and experience it yourself. Society has gone to hell and making excuses for it is how it has gotten us here. Have the courage to think outside of the narrative. Let’s make things better where and who we are. Not worse by falling for the lies that have indoctrinated so many many people.
I'm pretty sure I've read in a number of sources that if the Vigiles caught someone emptying a chamber pot out of a window they would fine that person and that landlords always kept an eye out for any tenants upstairs who did that. And, that most people (presumable men) made use of vats placed on most streetcorners.
Yeah that's true. A professor told me it was especially common to dump out the window at night though since it was more convenient then going out to empty the chamber pot and you're less likely to get caught. Thankfully you're less likely to dump it on someone then as well.
Yes, people weren't supposed to empty their chamber pots out the window, and there were regulations forbidding it (as far as we can tell) in most Roman cities. But human nature being what it is, it seems to have happened with distressing frequency.
@@toldinstone Is there an old Sicilian or maybe it is an old Italian custom where men would walk on the outside and have women walk inside (closer to the building) and men would then catch most of whatever might be carelessly tossed from an overhead window or balcony? What a fascinating and fun video -- I can imagine the sponsor in Astoria greatly appreciate this, too. It was so interesting to watch this, thank you again
@@sagapoetic8990 I would think the one closer is going to catch most of it. Women walking on the inside had more to do with skirts getting splashed from the roadways.
"(presumable men) made use of vats placed on most streetcorners." It's my understanding that there were urinals out on the public streets and that the urine was collected for use as a cleaning solution: Uric acid. The uric acid was used to clean their laundry. Rinsed with clear water afterwards, of course!
It is also suggested that the Romans used uric acid to brush their teeth. Who's going to be the first person to test the effectiveness of this and get back to us?
Over a million views for an ancient public restroom. Amazing
"Clean your butt with the sponge Timulus!"
"But all these guys just used it!"
Imagine the banter in those public latrines.
This kills my fantasies of living in a medieval fantasy realm. Who cares about wizards and fantastic beings if you have to 'clean' yourself daily with filthy sponges and rocks?
shit was disgusting back in the days man they used to share to wipe and clean up 🤮
True. I think I'd have preferred the Aqua-Dump if there was a lake, pond or other large body of water nearby.
people used water not rocks.
@@mohamedamin4302 the video just mentioned that rocks were used as cleaning too🤦♀️
@@mohamedamin4302 the video says they not only used rocks, but seashells too in order to scrape the poo off.
I can relate to this. Back in the 70s during basic training in the Army, all the toilets and showers were in the open,(no privacy, and there was a reason for this, so we were told) and we would pass along the toilet paper and soap to one another. Do that in today's generation. Still, it seemed normal to us, soldiers.
What fun! Its all in the details.
Being woken up to a new toldinstone video is the best feeling in the world!
It's 20:30 in my country, so I cannot share that pleasure
@@jonatandec7083 hello fellow European👋🏽
@@N00B283 ah i see you're a man of culture as well
Just in time for a stiff drink!
Still a virgin I see?! :P
A huge octopus crawled out of one of the toilets as everyone stared in amazement. Some laughed, others were frightened. This one event that happened in a Roman toilet has made it 2000 years into the future. We are still talking about that one morning an octopus crawled from that toilet.
The sponge was not toilet paper. It was the toilet brush. It's a misconception.
Lmao, putting up frescos of the goddess Fortuna is the ancient equivalent of having a sign over the door to the ablutions that simply reads, "Good luck and have fun". Equal parts intrigue and trepidation.
Awesome ad, love to see the support for a true local & small business. Love the videos too, keep up the amazing work!
When I did my Finnish military training in the 80s, our toilet set-up was similar to the one of Romans. We had four seats on either side without any partitions. It is interesting how quickly it became the most natural thing to do one's business and chat with army mates about the daily events.
Did it feel awkward at first to poop while someone looking in your face?
Hey bud, hand me some of that toilet paper? That sucks. 10 guys in there. Nothing worse than a dozen heads all abreast.
Sorry, but for the 80s that sounds utterly disgusting. :(
80s???? 😬
You finns are quite the strange bunch but at the same a very fascinating people!
Roman cities consumed unbelievable amounts of water. The Roman drainage system was not 'on-demand' like ours with taps for shutting water on and off in sinks and toilets. Clean water continuously flowed throughout homes and public buildings and emptied continuously into the drains. They weren't perfect, but they were very good.
I wish I could visit these ancient times and experience their way of life.
I usually skip over embedded ads but seeing one for a neighborhood specific small business is very charming.
I love that you’ve got a sponsor who isn’t the usual, same old TH-cam sponsor. If I ever need plumbing done in Queens, I’ll call Woosh
Now in 2019 Californians homeless crap in the streets of San Francisco in downtown walking around town is a no no to smelly crap on sidewalks dirty needles rats so filthy everywhere in SF smells like caca
Very informative and well presented - thank you! Shout out to WHOOSH PLUMBING! If I lived in their service area, I would certainly use their services based solely on their sponsorship of this video!
Very good informative video 👍🏿
I remember seeing an example of this in the Spartacus series and was completely grossed out by the communal wiping sponge. 😖
Many thanks for another witty, gentle, and informative look into the Roman world. Your humor continues to delight me and my husband, and your scholarship continues to engage and inform us. You have a lovely gift for storytelling. Thank you for sharing it.
I remember how uncomfortable I was when I first encountered a Roman public toilet - I think it was in Ephesus, but I can't remember for sure offhand. I realized at the time how different my toilet cultural sensibilities differed from those of the Romans. Your video brought those memories back this evening. You've given me another gift by prodding me out of my comfort zone.
My husband suggests a video on the typical items found in an agora and forum, and the typical items for sale elsewhere outside the market places.
We look forward to your next video, no matter what the subject.
In front of the toilets was a channel with running water in which they cleaned their sponges. The channel is noticeable in some of the photos you showed of the ruins of ancient latrines.
Terribly interesting! Thank you! If you've ever been camping or lived in rural areas, this stuff doesn't shock you. But, most city people can't even compute this behavior...LOL.
As always Dr. Ryan you’re witty humor is always appreciated, even when you talk about Roman latrines. Thank you again for another fabulous video.
"Ut bene cacaret, ventrem palpavit Solon" - truly wise words for all time
This made me wonder if the parent-to-small-child term caca for feces derives from Latin. A stretch, yes, but not inconceivable.
@@b.a.erlebacher1139 it does!
Imagine the smell...
6:46 That gives new meaning to the song O Fortuna.
6:46 how did he manage to say this without laughing, the imagery is absolutely hysterical
That's the origin of the phrase "on the hot seat."
I always like to imagine what humans centuries in the future will look back on and gag asking, “did people really do that?” Communal sponges made me wonder what atrocities we’re committing now that people someday will wonder how we could have lived that way.
The xylospongium being used to clean yourself is likely a modern myth. There's really no evidence for that and modern science considers it more likely it was a sort of toilet brush to clean the latrine after use.
And considering most did not bathe daily I would imagine it was not a pleasant life for the nose. It's amazing what we take for normal these days that were not always so.
communal sponges is a totall myth
As I've worked in restaurants my whole life I'd like to mention the Health Department's exist for a reason.
Left unchecked, many humans still act in a disgusting manner.
Circumcision atrocity.
Highly informative!
Living near a river those days was probably a blessing.
Unless you were downstream from the loo or from animals. When a Roman army camped, those in charge had to be careful to place animals and loos downstream from the soldiers and drinking water or an entire army could sicken in a hurry. One way to tell a good general from a bad one.
Can you imagine the conversation going around in one of these places
Just non stop poop and fart jokes I imagine.
Reminds me of the latrines at Fort Gordon, Georgia back in the 70's. We had a row of about 10 toilets against a wall with no dividers or any privacy whatsoever. People would walk by in front as you were taking a dump on their way to the showers. The first time I saw that I vowed to hold it for the duration of my AIT training but that didn't quite work out. Lol.
Fort Bragg early 90's the same thing. I went through a pre-ranger course out there and toilets where side by side. I had to use it and sat down next to an Army chaplain lol! Both of us taking a crap chatting. haha!
@@jimb3093
"Father, any prayers to get the strength to pass the Poo?"
"10 hail Mary's, 5 apostle creeds, and bite the bullet son!"!
Treating soldiers like animals for no actual reason. Enormous budget, I think they could afford a door and 2 walls to shit unobserved.
Romans and Medieval Europeans didn't empty their chamber pots out windows into the street; they were careful about public hygeiene. Sponges in a Roman latrine were cleaned before & after use in the channel of running water in front of the user. Sponges were then put back into pots of vinegar or another disinfectant.
Nice job, I usually don't like videos like this but it kept my attention to the very end. I didn't know any of the info either, you learn something new everyday.