Where did the ancient Romans use the bathroom?

Answer 1

Many of the poor Romans lived in apartment dwellings which had no indoor Plumbing. They either used the public latrines or chamber pots for their needs.

Many of the poor Romans lived in apartment dwellings which had no indoor plumbing. They either used the public latrines or chamber pots for their needs.

Many of the poor Romans lived in apartment dwellings which had no indoor plumbing. They either used the public latrines or chamber pots for their needs.

Many of the poor Romans lived in apartment dwellings which had no indoor plumbing. They either used the public latrines or chamber pots for their needs.

Many of the poor Romans lived in apartment dwellings which had no indoor plumbing. They either used the public latrines or chamber pots for their needs.

Many of the poor Romans lived in apartment dwellings which had no indoor plumbing. They either used the public latrines or chamber pots for their needs.

Many of the poor Romans lived in apartment dwellings which had no indoor plumbing. They either used the public latrines or chamber pots for their needs.

Many of the poor Romans lived in apartment dwellings which had no indoor plumbing. They either used the public latrines or chamber pots for their needs.

Many of the poor Romans lived in apartment dwellings which had no indoor plumbing. They either used the public latrines or chamber pots for their needs.

Answer 2

The Romans invented open style sewer. So that is where they put their feces

Edit: the Romans actually invented several techniques for draining water that were regarded as innovative and potentially rivaled modern systems. These techniques, initially using underground channels dug to drain marshes and protect topsoil from heavy rains, were eventually applied to Roman cities. The sewers themselves were not initially meant for wastes, but merely to drain water out of the cities. Eventually, wealthy households could get connected to the sewers by tunnels dug beneath the houses, and public latrines consisting of long benches with holes over a channel of the sewers were created.

However, some families continued disposing of their waste the old-fashioned way: by defecating in chamberpots and flinging the waste out the window into the street in the hopes that it would land in the storm sewer running down the middle of most streets.

Answer 3

Hygiene in ancient Rome included the famous public Roman baths, toilets, exfoliating cleansers, public facilities, and -- communal toilet sponge notwithstanding -- generally high standards of cleanliness.

When trying to explain to children, students, readers, or friends what life was once like, nothing gets to the heart of the matter more poignantly than intimate details about daily life. Telling young children that there were no televisions, movies, or radio, no electric or traffic lights, no refrigerators, or air conditioners, no cars, trains, or airplanes, doesn't convey the "primitive" conditions nearly so well as explaining that instead of using toilet paper, they used a communal sponge -- dutifully rinsed out after use.

In reading about the ancient practices, it is important to put away preconceived notions. Did urban centers like ancient Rome stink? Certainly, but so do modern cities, and who's to say whether the smell of diesel exhaust is any less overwhelming than the smell of Roman urns for collecting urine for the fullers (dry cleaners)? Soap is not the be-all and end-all of cleanliness. Bidets are not so common in the modern world that we can afford to scoff at ancient hygienic practices.

Threads on ancient hygiene generate enormous interest in the Ancient / Classical History Forum. The following are some of the points made by those interested and knowledgeable about ancient Rome.

Answer 4

Here is a picture of public Roman toilets:

http://neatorama.cachefly.net/images/2006-08/roman-toilet.jpg

Answer 5

Many of the poor Romans lived in apartment dwellings which had no indoor plumbing. They either used the public latrines or chamber pots for their needs.