4 ms·

Hmmm, a damp sea-sponge-on-a-stick doesn’t sound so bad... > “Worse, the tersoria were probably reused and shared by all fellow butt-wipers who came and went t

Hmmm, a damp sea-sponge-on-a-stick doesn’t sound so bad... > “Worse, the tersoria were probably reused and shared by all fellow butt-wipers who came and went throughout the day.” Ok, I’m logging out for the day. Before I go, here’s a list of sane alternatives in case any of you find yourselves in ancient Rome by accident (snow and lamb’s ears are the Rolls Royce of natural TP, but pinecones and rocks work quite well in a pinch): http://ultralightbackpackintips.blogspot.com/2012/09/liberate-yourself-from-toilet-paper.html?m=1 http://ultralightbackpackintips.blogspot.com/2012/09/liberat...

AS37 5y ago
IIRC they eventually figured out to soak the sponges in soured wine (a.k.a. vinegar) as an antiseptic. Which may add some depth to this passage: > About three in the afternoon [while being crucified] Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[c] lema sabachthani?” ... Immediately one of [those standing near] ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.
- wazoox 5y ago
  Roman soldiers wore sponges imbibed with vinegar on a string around their neck, for drinking. The vinegar was added to keep the moist sponge from rotting. So most probably the correct interpretation is that the Roman soldier passed his own personal drinking bottle to Jesus.
- mellavora 5y ago
  Yes, I realized the same thing the last time I read about roman toilets. Wonder why they never taught this in sunday school?
- kerev989 5y ago
  Yeah, because there was a convenient public toilet right there and the soldier reached over its wall. Or, maybe, the "vinegar" was the ration of sour wine the soldiers carried.
  - ksenzee 5y ago
    The point is relevant whether that actual sponge on a stick came from a toilet or not. The contempt implicit in the giving is not at all clear if you don't know what a sponge on a stick was usually for.
    - sjg007 5y ago
      It changes the whole meaning..
      - Talanes 5y ago
        Not really? It would be notable if I handed you a slice of pizza sat atop a wad of toilet paper, even if it's just unused paper and not actually from the bathroom.
        hoseja 5y ago
        Not if you didn't know what toilet paper is used for.
  - ASalazarMX 5y ago
    It's not like Jesus was going anywhere if the soldier didn't come back immediately. Anyway, the text implies that the sponge was soaked first, and then put on a stick (maybe because the cross was too tall). If it had been an actual xylospongium it would have been already on a stick.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
deltarholamda 5y ago
Yep, I was given the full explanation of a Roman toilet on a tour of Pompeii twenty-odd years ago. As soon as I saw this posted, I knew I would not be clicking through.
- thamer 5y ago
  I also went to Pompeii ~25 years ago and still remember being fascinated by the latrines. This article has a few more photos from Pompeii and Rome including the Cloaca Maxima, as well as a map of public and private latrines discovered in the ruins: https://theconversation.com/talking-heads-what-toilets-and-sewers-tell-us-about-ancient-roman-sanitation-50045 https://theconversation.com/talking-heads-what-toilets-and-s...
bserge 5y ago
Burdock and grape leaves work well, and should be easy to find :D

AS37 5y ago

IIRC they eventually figured out to soak the sponges in soured wine (a.k.a. vinegar) as an antiseptic. Which may add some depth to this passage: > About three in the afternoon [while being crucified] Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[c] lema sabachthani?” ... Immediately one of [those standing near] ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.

wazoox 5y ago
Roman soldiers wore sponges imbibed with vinegar on a string around their neck, for drinking. The vinegar was added to keep the moist sponge from rotting. So most probably the correct interpretation is that the Roman soldier passed his own personal drinking bottle to Jesus.
mellavora 5y ago
Yes, I realized the same thing the last time I read about roman toilets. Wonder why they never taught this in sunday school?
kerev989 5y ago
Yeah, because there was a convenient public toilet right there and the soldier reached over its wall. Or, maybe, the "vinegar" was the ration of sour wine the soldiers carried.
- ksenzee 5y ago
  The point is relevant whether that actual sponge on a stick came from a toilet or not. The contempt implicit in the giving is not at all clear if you don't know what a sponge on a stick was usually for.
  - sjg007 5y ago
    It changes the whole meaning..
    - Talanes 5y ago
      Not really? It would be notable if I handed you a slice of pizza sat atop a wad of toilet paper, even if it's just unused paper and not actually from the bathroom.
      - hoseja 5y ago
        Not if you didn't know what toilet paper is used for.
- ASalazarMX 5y ago
  It's not like Jesus was going anywhere if the soldier didn't come back immediately. Anyway, the text implies that the sponge was soaked first, and then put on a stick (maybe because the cross was too tall). If it had been an actual xylospongium it would have been already on a stick.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

deltarholamda 5y ago

Yep, I was given the full explanation of a Roman toilet on a tour of Pompeii twenty-odd years ago. As soon as I saw this posted, I knew I would not be clicking through.

thamer 5y ago
I also went to Pompeii ~25 years ago and still remember being fascinated by the latrines. This article has a few more photos from Pompeii and Rome including the Cloaca Maxima, as well as a map of public and private latrines discovered in the ruins: https://theconversation.com/talking-heads-what-toilets-and-sewers-tell-us-about-ancient-roman-sanitation-50045 https://theconversation.com/talking-heads-what-toilets-and-s...

bserge 5y ago

Burdock and grape leaves work well, and should be easy to find :D