Roman latrines

[richsc]

The May/June 2004 edition of Archaeology Odyssey has a good essay on Roman latrines and how they worked (lot of research down the tubes I suppose). <p>Legio XX<br>
Caupona Asellinae</p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Believe it or not, I was quite "relieved" to see the article. I had been doing some of my own reading to try and find sources for the Latin name of the sponge on a stick and its Latin name. Utaris Xylospongium "Use the Sponge on a stick."<br>
<br>
Instructions on a lavatory wall in Ostia<br>
<br>
Alan Vales <p></p><i></i>

[aitor iriarte]

'Utaris Xylospongium', just fascinating!<br>
I'd like to get that essay but I think that the magazine is not avaible here (or maybe I haven't noticed it)<br>
I enclose a pic of our reconstructed lavatrina at our Roman festival<br>
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tribunus/lavatrina.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
<br>
Aitor <p></p><i></i>

[richsc]

And I certainly hope that brown is paint... <p>Legio XX <br>
Caupona Asellinae</p><i></i>

[aitor iriarte]

Sure, just make-up to create 'atmosphere' (next year we'll try to attract a horde of flies and keep them buzzing around!)<br>
<br>
Aitor <p></p><i></i>

[Lepidina]

Oh, we so need one of those at Roman Days!! I'm sure we could make one at a fabrica.<br>
<br>
deb <p></p><i></i>

[aitor iriarte]

We made it for the sake of introducing the public to the different concept that Romans had about some, err, body functions.<br>
The surface is filled with scratched (obscene) graffiti and a pair of game boards (ludus latrunculorum and nine men Morris). The scratched boards are intended to show two soldiers playing while they 'sit' on the latrine.<br>
BTW, is that paper on Roman latrines too long as to be, say, scanned and e-mailed to me?<br>
<br>
Aitor <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p088.ezboard.com/bromancivtalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=aitoririarte>Aitor Iriarte</A> at: 9/23/04 1:05 am<br></i>

[richsc]

This would not be hard to do. We could put it in an extension to the caupona as I have extra panels. <p>Legio XX <br>
Caupona Asellinae</p><i></i>

[Lepidina]

Would there be latrines that close to an eating establishment in Roman times? I would think that they would be placed on the outskirts of the city or at least way downwind.<br>
<br>
deb <p></p><i></i>

[aitor iriarte]

The main concern for a public latrine was a plentiful water supply and, therefore, they were usually placed over the main outlet of public baths. There weren't problems with sewers in Roman cities...<br>
Private latrines were some times placed inside the kitchens. Romans didn't have the same ideas on the matter than us and perhaps they found appealing to eat a snack while sitting on the 'throne'!<br>
<br>
Aitor <p></p><i></i>

[Eleatic Guest]

Shit. I need good and large pics of Roman flush toilets with which I can explain their working. Preferably from Vindolanda, or from any other place than those often depicted ones from Ostia.

[Carlton Bach]

Private latrines were some times placed inside the kitchens. Romans didn't have the same ideas on the matter than us and perhaps they found appealing to eat a snack while sitting on the 'throne'

I rather suspect it was practical for kitchen waste disposal.

[Avatar]

Private latrines were some times placed inside the kitchens. Romans didn't have the same ideas on the matter than us and perhaps they found appealing to eat a snack while sitting on the 'throne'

I rather suspect it was practical for kitchen waste disposal.

Practicality comes before everything else it seems. But yes, I agree that they were likely placed there for such a purpose.

[tlclark]

There is a wealthy house in Ostia that has a nyphaeum right in the triclinium. There is a small doorway just behind it that leads to ... the latrine.

I suspect that there must have been some conspicuous display in both items.

[Hieronymus]

From one of Rome's remote posts: [url:1oeqo66x]http://www.everyobject.net/story.php?uid=747[/url]

Click on article image for larger image.