Lifting the Lid on Roman Latrines
Unlike the relaxation and privacy of today's toilets, Roman latrines (foricae) were public, convivial atmospheres, where one might to discuss politics or socialising. Sanitation, however involved a complex system similar in many ways to modern sanitation systems used today. Roman citizens would sit over key-shaped holes cut into stone/timber bench running around the walls of the room. The stone bench provided little privacy. The bench was positioned over a drain, and in front was a gutter for the citizens to wash their sponges. A sea sponge was tied onto a stick and used in roman latrines. Sponges served for lavatory paper and were shared between strangers. They were occasionally soaked in vinegar to remove odours but were often doused in fresh running water instead. …show more content…
Some of the first sewers were built from 800 to 735 BCE. Water was brought to the latrines through aqueducts from the Anio Valley, rather than being taken from the Tiber River. Water from aqueducts was piped to the homes of the rich, roman baths, latrines, etc. Aqueducts were bridges made to carry a waterway over a valley or any other gap. There were 9 aqueducts supplying Rome with freshwater, the longest being 86km. Once the water reached the latrine, drains would carry the water under the seats, carrying away any scatological matter. Waste from the latrines would be washed away into the Cloaca Maxima. Freshwater would also run through a gutter on the ground, used for cleaning
Unlike the relaxation and privacy of today's toilets, Roman latrines (foricae) were public, convivial atmospheres, where one might to discuss politics or socialising. Sanitation, however involved a complex system similar in many ways to modern sanitation systems used today. Roman citizens would sit over key-shaped holes cut into stone/timber bench running around the walls of the room. The stone bench provided little privacy. The bench was positioned over a drain, and in front was a gutter for the citizens to wash their sponges. A sea sponge was tied onto a stick and used in roman latrines. Sponges served for lavatory paper and were shared between strangers. They were occasionally soaked in vinegar to remove odours but were often doused in fresh running water instead. …show more content…
Some of the first sewers were built from 800 to 735 BCE. Water was brought to the latrines through aqueducts from the Anio Valley, rather than being taken from the Tiber River. Water from aqueducts was piped to the homes of the rich, roman baths, latrines, etc. Aqueducts were bridges made to carry a waterway over a valley or any other gap. There were 9 aqueducts supplying Rome with freshwater, the longest being 86km. Once the water reached the latrine, drains would carry the water under the seats, carrying away any scatological matter. Waste from the latrines would be washed away into the Cloaca Maxima. Freshwater would also run through a gutter on the ground, used for cleaning