RomanArmyTalk

It's a rather silly question, but do we know if the ancients had a habit of washing their hands after going to a toilet? If so, how did they do it?

If they would dit it, they probably used water and maybe scrub. I can imagin that you would wash your hands at a nearby fountain.

roll: Curious question! Yes, roman washes their hands (i suppose ones more than others...)

Normally the room ocuped by a latrine is provided with a fountain, what is obviously to wash the hands.

Avete fraters,
yes, this question is a bit courious but interesting. I am sure that Romans washed their hands after visiting a toilet (see fountains in a toilet room). AS far I know, Romans also used a primitive soap, but generaly not for washing themselfs or for washing process, but as a bandoline. We have an evidence that Roman doctor GALENOS (mit second century a.d.) recommends a soap also for personal hygiene. IMO: Romans have used a soap also for personal hygyene a long time before Galenos, because they were really neatnik.

valle and regards from Prague

Here is a page from Bill Thayer's site, including some pictures. I suppose that it is possible that the little trough of running water could have been used to wash one's hands.

I've read elsewhere (and seen on some documentaries) that the trough was used to clean the hock: sponge-on-a-stick device hock: . Interestingly, Mr. Thayer isn't convinced of this.

If the trough was used to rinse the sponges, I hesitate to think that it would have also been used to wash hands. But perhaps this is just the 21st century in me talking.

The channels in front of each seat are for cleaning the sponge, not for washing the hands...

Roman first wash his ass ( :roll: ) and then wash the hands in the fountain.

Curious is too, the stick with the sponge were comunitary. :?

In the Middle East people still shake hands only with the right hand, because the left is reserved for toilet business. It would not be custom, if the cleaning process were perfect.

I've also heard that the sponge was stored in a pail of vinegar. Strange.

I don't think the fountain would be for washing the sponge, as that water would then be polluted. The idea was that the water would flow through the trough, and under the seats, sort of a continual flush toilet, as it were.

Hand washing would more likely be done on a need basis. Using the sponge on a stick, there's little chance anything icky would touch the hands, you know? Somewhere a long time ago, Tarbicus remarked that the sponges are kind of scratchy. It's true, Jim. :wink:

Thanks for the replies. But I have one more question. Would those fountains exist in a military base/fort as well? If so, where and how would they get the water from?

Quote:If the trough was used to rinse the sponges, I hesitate to think that it would have also been used to wash hands. But perhaps this is just the 21st century in me talking.

The troughs might be as simple as drainage when the floor was being washed.

Importantly, take a look at these photos from Ephesus:
http://www.cromwell-intl.com/toilet/pic ... sus-01.jpg
http://www.cromwell-intl.com/toilet/biblical_new.html
http://www.sewerhistory.org/images/pu/1st_pu01.jpg
http://www.sewerhistory.org/images/wm/wmt/wmt06.jpg

The troughs were seemingly covered. This would also allow any accidental fluids to mostly go through the slits in the raised wooden platforms, and keep the central area mostly uncontaminated. The lack of any fixing holes for the platforms merely suggests they were easily removed for some slave or attendant to wash underneath regularly.

This photo shows how awkward it could be for even an adult to go through the motions in comfort in some cases, without the platform:
http://www.nzine.co.nz/images/articles/loob.jpg

And in this case, I don't think I'd want to be sat with my feet directly on top of the drain used to wash the sponges :?
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Sx1d3E-Tbaw/R8fE8 ... oilets.JPG

Avete,
I am a bit confused that the stick with a sponge was shared :? ? idea: Yes, I know that the sponge was storaged in vinegar, but...

best regards

Can I have one question? It is about using sponges in the army: Is it true that soldiers have obtained only one stick with a sponge for the contubernium? I personaly think that it is unlikely, because of Romans sense of hygiene. I am almost sure that centurio, optio, signifer etc. had his own sponge, but I am not sure, how it was truly...


Is there anybody, who can help me to find some answers?

thank you all and best regards

In ancient Mesopotamia they believed that disease was caused by evil spirits who would enter people and cause them disease.

As a result they performed elaborate hand washing ceremonies beefore eating, praying, going to the lavatory etc.

These elbaorate hand washing ceremonies can today be seen with the Christian adoption of using the "waters of life" to purify a believer during baptism and before the Islamic prayers conducted numerous times a day.

These rituals took place thousands of years before germ theory was discovered and modern medicine advocated the rigorous use of washing hands.

Quote:These rituals took place thousands of years before germ theory was discovered and modern medicine advocated the rigorous use of washing hands.

And yet the kitchen next door to the 'toilet' was utterly common all over the world until the breakthroughs of Western science in bacteriology. Still, in may places is.

Radka, Each toilet had its own sponge, that's true. But that is as most of the toilet's are used on the same time, every 'place' need one. As the toilets were of general use, you shared the sponge stick.

I don't know any references to the use of sponges in the army, but as we take the 'civilian' situation into account, the centurio (and his family) probably could have their own, but I wouldn't say that because of the level of hygiene of the Romans, the higher offices had their own, as that's simple not true, if we look at the high status roman civilians.