_Privacy? Never heard of her._ 💅
Imagine scrolling on your phone while you do your business. Now imagine doing it with **20 other people in the same room**, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on a marble bench. Welcome to the Roman public toilet. 🚽
### 😬 No Stalls, No Privacy, No Problem
Ancient Romans had a totally different concept of privacy. Their public latrines (_foricae_) were basically social clubs where you could catch up on gossip, make business deals, and, you know, poop. 💩
- **Communal Benches**: Long marble benches with keyhole-shaped holes, spaced about a foot apart.
- **Social Hub**: People chatted like it was a coffee shop. No big deal.
- **Toga Coverage**: Your toga offered a *little* bit of a privacy barrier, but not much. You just had to own it. 😂
### 🧽 The Sponge on a Stick
So, no toilet paper. What did they use? A **xylospongium**, or "sponge on a stick." It was a sea sponge attached to a wooden handle. After you were done, you'd rinse it in a channel of constantly running water in the floor and leave it in a bucket of saltwater for the next person. ✨ **Yes, it was communal.** ✨
This is probably how they all got intestinal worms, but hey, innovation! 💀
### 👎 The Downsides (Besides the Sponge)
Let's be real, these places were gnarly.
- **They were dark and smelly.**
- **Rats and other creatures** could crawl up from the sewer below. 🐀
- **Methane gas** could build up and literally cause explosions. 🔥
Elite Romans almost never used them. They built them for the poor to keep the streets clean, but they wouldn't be caught dead in one. They had their own private toilets or used chamber pots. The class divide was real, even in the bathroom. 😬
So next time you're in a public restroom, just be grateful for stalls. And toilet paper. 🙏
### Sources & More Reading
**1. Smithsonian Magazine - "How the Ancient Romans Went to the Bathroom"**
A super detailed look at the social dynamics and hygiene (or lack thereof) of Roman toilets.
Read at Smithsonian Magazine
**2. HistoryExtra - "Ancient Roman culture would be baffling to modern eyes"**
This article gives great context on the Roman idea of privacy (or the lack of it).
Read at HistoryExtra
**3. Wikipedia - "Xylospongium"**
Everything you never wanted to know about the sponge on a stick.
Read at Wikipedia
