The xylospongium, also known as a tersorium or "sponge on a stick," was an interesting hygienic tool used in ancient Rome. This particular utensil served a crucial purpose in the daily lives of ancient Romans, providing a means to clean themselves after defecating. Constructed by attaching a sea sponge to a wooden stick, the xylospongium served as a precursor to modern toilet paper in Roman society.
Dickson. Herdemerten ( Hannibal21 ), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A replica of a Roman xylospongium or 'sponge on a stick'
The wooden stick, or Greek ξύλον (xylon), and the sea sponge, Greek σπόγγος (spongos), were both natural materials readily available to the ancient Romans. Sea sponges were preferred because of their softness and ability to absorb moisture, making them an effective cleaning agent.
Restrooms in ancient Rome were often communal, with multiple people using the facilities at once. These public latrines were designed for the convenience of the citizens, ensuring accessibility to proper sanitation facilities. However, privacy was not a top priority in these spaces, as they typically had multiple seats situated close together with no screens or such like in between. The Roman latrines had running water under the seats, which helped to wash away waste and keep the area clean.
Roman public latrines were somewhat lacking in privacy
Due to this shared atmosphere, the xylospongium was also frequently shared among users. Despite its seemingly unsanitary nature, the tool played an important role in maintaining cleanliness for the people of ancient Rome... at least, according to their standards anyway.
The use of the xylospongium might seem rather appalling by today's hygiene standards. Nonetheless, it stands as a fascinating example of how different societies throughout history have approached the universal issue of sanitation and personal hygiene.
Usage and Public Hygiene in Ancient Rome
Hygiene Practices and Cleaning Method
The xylospongium was dipped in a bucket of water and salt, or sometimes vinegar, as these substances had mild disinfecting properties. Even though the Romans did not understand why something worked, they were great observers of the effects that certain things had.
For instance, the ancient Romans knew about the health risks from both lead and asbestos, even if they did not fully know why it occurred.
Health Concerns and Diseases
The shared use of xylospongium in Roman public toilets posed several health risks. Even with the salt and the vinegar, bacteria could easily thrive on these communal cleaning tools, making them a potential breeding ground for infections. Diseases like typhoid were prevalent in ancient Rome, due to the lack of proper hygiene practices and the absence of modern cleaning solutions that are used today, like disposable toilet paper or the bidet.
Despite the hygienic advancements of the ancient Roman society such as fresh running water from aqueducts, bathhouses, sewer systems, public latrines, and the xylospongium, they still faced challenges in maintaining cleanliness and preventing the spread of diseases, primarily as they did not know about bacteria and germs on a microscopic level. Modern epidemiological studies suggest that such practices could have facilitated the transmission of ailments like gastrointestinal and parasitic infections.
Seneca's Account of a Unique Suicide Method
During the 1st century AD, Seneca the Younger, a noted Roman philosopher, recounted an incident where a gladiator of Germanic origin took his own life using a sponge attached to a stick. As described by Seneca, this gladiator concealed himself in an amphitheater's restroom and forcefully inserted the stick down his throat, resulting in asphyxiation and death:
"Lignum id, quod ad emundanda obscena adhaerente spongia positum est, totum in gulam farsit...", "the stick with a sponge attached, that is there for wiping the unmentionables, he stuffed it as it was down his throat". _ Moral Letters to Lucilius by Seneca (Find out more about this on the page Book Revew: 'Roman Games')
