Roman Toilets

In this episode of The Ancients podcast, host Tristan Hughes interviews Dr. Hannah Platts about Roman toilets. They discuss the different types of toilets in the Roman Empire, including communal and individual latrines, and how their design and usage varied depending on the local geology, cultural norms, and social status. The conversation covers the sensory experience of visiting a communal toilet, the role of private benefaction in funding public toilets, and the sanitation practices of the Romans. They also touch on the famous sponge-on-a-stick, the sophistication of toilets in elite houses, and the potential dangers of communal toilets as hotspots for diseases.