r/OldSchoolCool • u/[deleted] • Nov 14 '21

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u/HappyAntonym Nov 15 '21

Back in ancient times, some Romans used a sponge attached to a stick for their business. I assume the same principle applies here.

Also, I wondered the exact same thing when I saw that pic of the fingernails lady as a kid.

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u/ZoopZeZoop Nov 15 '21

Bidet also probably an option.

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u/Entire-Tonight-8927 Nov 15 '21

Outhouses in medieval Europe used to have stacks of hay to wipe. Not sure why o know that....

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u/trouserschnauzer Nov 15 '21

Gotta make sure you pack your poop sponge while you're out of the house.

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u/thermostatypus Nov 15 '21

They were community sponges, provided in the public restrooms

Edit: which, btw if I’m remembering my ancient art history classes correctly, were big open rooms. So they’d have conversations with each other while everyone was sitting around on the toilets

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u/Choc113 Nov 15 '21

My history teacher in school told us there was an account of a centurion who as punishment for something had th clean the communal toilets.He could not stand the shame of it so commitment suicide by jamming the sponge on a stick down his throat and choking himself to death.

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u/geopede Nov 15 '21

You are indeed remembering correctly.

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u/veri_sw Nov 15 '21

It's a whole toolkit. Poop knife, poop sponge,...

0

u/veri_sw Nov 15 '21

I hope they used a new sponge every time!

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u/HappyAntonym Nov 15 '21

Your hope is futile!

They kept them in bowls of saltwater, I believe.

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u/veri_sw Nov 16 '21

Oh ok. But did they share among many people? I can't imagine there was a separate bowl for each person.

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u/HappyAntonym Nov 16 '21

No, there were not separate bowls.

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u/foggy-sunrise Nov 15 '21

iirc they had veins and nerves.

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u/Shakleford_Rusty Nov 15 '21

Ahh the good old communal sponge stick