What was the purpose of the "xylospongium"?

Not very hygienic and an awful way to commit suicide! But saved getting skidmarks on their togas!

TRUE CANADIAN Laurel, And what's wrong with a hole in the ground? Plenty of countries have 'em. In Australia we have "long-drops" out of built-up areas, these are pans set over a deep hole. The smell isn't the best but hey, when nature calls ya gotta answer lol (These days a lot of them are composting toilets so the smell isn't too bad)

I’d have used the toga if I was desperate then burnt it!

Common sense, bidet and toilet paper are not yet available. If you are in the countryside or forest, leaves will do to clean up after relieving yourself.

It’s where the expression, ´don’t get the wrong end of the stick’ comes from

Has no one ever heard of using water to wash your backside? In Muslim countries a vessel shaped like a teapot is used for washing after using the toilet. You just have to wash your hands properly with soap afterwards. Not rocket science! These days a lot of places have small bidet showers fitted next to the toilet instead of the jugs of water. A lot of people who went to Qatar for the World Cup discovered this and were pleasantly surprised by this!

That explanation took a dark turn.

TRUE CANADIAN Laurel, Experienced the same toilet “design” in Greece in 1995, ie just a hole in the floor…but no sponge.

Kiwozzie, That’s very funny.! ! !

TRUE CANADIAN Laurel, that happened to me in northern Italy. And no privacy! Just 3 or 4 holes in the cement floor with no stalls or toilets!

TRUE CANADIAN Laurel, these types of toilets used to exist in Paris cafes and pubs too. not sure if they still do but not thaty unusual. they were known as 'arab' toilets. a friend of mine had one in a flat with a shower head fitted over so you could shower too over the whole.

there was a public toilet like that in Thessaloniki airport in 1994. Hopefully there's a proper one nowadays.

TRUE CANADIAN Laurel, I went to Italy just a few years ago and a restaurant had a hole in the ground as a toilet but at least it had toilet paper. The huge sponge -yuck! It might have been better to use the hole and Kleenex rather than doing it at the side of the road and leaving the Kleenex.

The Picture tells us one thing Use dirty things to make it clean Use clean things to make it dirty

Kiwozzie, 🤣