Ancient Toilets and Views on Pottying

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 Latrines were everywhere  Can be as indicators of “Romanization” (like amphitheaters or baths)  Pompeii: Several public latrines, nearly every house had private latrine

From Latrinae et Foricae

From “Public Latrines of Pompeii”

 Usually multi-seaters  Public:  Usually stone seats  Suspended over a deep drain with running water  Small water channel in front of seats  Private:  Seats probably wooden  Not suspended over drain  Elevated, tiled surface

From Latrinae et Foricae

 Water Supply  Aqueducts  Waste Water  Cesspits  Dung Heaps

From Latrinae et Foricae

 Sponge on Stick  A Gladiator, preparing to enter battle, “withdrew in order to relieve himself – the only thing he was allowed to do in secret and without the presence of a guard. While so engaged, he seized the stick of wood, tipped with a sponge, which was used for the vilest purposes and stuffed it, just as it was, down his throat; thus he blocked up his windpipe and choked the breath from his body”  Water Channel in front of toilets

 Hand washing  “After easing his bladder, he called for water, and having dipped his hands momentarily in the bowl, dried them on one of the lads' hair.”  Intentional Sanitation?

 Decoration  Public: Marble, Mosaics, Statuary  Private: Basic  Ventilation  Windows  Smell

From “Public Latrines of Pompeii”

 Classes  High Class vs. Low Class  Latrines vs. Chamber Pots  Gender  Separated Bathing  Modesty of Toga  Private Latrines

From Latrinae et Foricae

 Division between Public and Private  Public Nature of Private Latrines  Social Function  Concept of Privacy  Modern ideas of privacy and social taboos on defecating

 Paintings at Ostia  In the Caupona (tavern) of the Seven Sages  Seven Sages of Greece  Discussion of Defecation  Written References  Literary, Graffiti  Handout

 Given everything, what can we say about attitudes toward latrines and using them?  Is there a difference between the elite attitude towards this stuff and the nonelite?  (Think about Trimalchio’s banquet vs. tavern paintings, latrines vs. chamber pots)

 Clarke, John R. Art in the Lives of Ordinary Romans: Visual Representations and Non-Elite Viewers in Italy, 100 B.C.-A.D Berkley: University of California, 2003  Favro, Diane. "Roman Latrines." Places 11.1 (1997): EScholarship. University of California. Web. 7 Nov  Hobson, Barry. Latrinae et Foricae: Toilets in the Roman World. London: Gerald Duckworth and Co. Ltd., Print.  Jansen, Gemma. "The Water System; Supply and Drainage." The World of Pompeii (Routledge Worlds). Ed. John J. Dobbins and Pedar W. Foss. New York: Routledge,  Koloski-Ostrow, Ann Olga. "Finding Social Meaning in the Public Latrines of Pompeii." Cura aquarum in Campania proceedings of the Ninth International Congress on the History of Water Management and Hydraulic Engineering in the Mediterranean Region : Pompeii, 1-8, Ed. Nathalie De Haan and Gemma C.M. Jansen. Leiden: Stichting Babesch,  Koloski-Ostrow, Ann Olga. “The City Baths of Pompeii and Herculaneum." The World of Pompeii (Routledge Worlds). Ed. John J. Dobbins and Pedar W. Foss. New York: Routledge,  Rykwert, Joseph. "Privacy in Antiquity." Social Research 68 (2001):  Shanks, Hershel. "The Puzzling Channels in Ancient Latrines." Biblical Archaeology Review 28.5 (2002): 49-51, 70.