Explanation: Roman public latrines were, counterintuitively to modern Western cultural norms, places for socialization while you did your, ahem, business. Rather than desperately trying to avoid eye contact with anyone in or out of the latrines, it was common to take a seat next to someone, strike up some conversation; even play a quick game of tic-tac-toe between the seats! The Roman poet Juvenal even wrote a short poem making fun of a man who was lingering in the public latrines all day - not because of intestinal issues, but because he hoped (not entirely absurdly) to score a dinner invitation (free food!) by making small talk with his fellow shitters!
, it was common to take a seat next to someone, strike up some conversation; even play a quick game of tic-tac-toe between the seats!
It would be fucking hilarious if it was just that one time, and because of Brutus and Ionnes, the romans have a reputation for being shit gamers, while they did it one time as a fucking joke.
They would have to have been some pretty prodigious travelers! We have multiple examples from all across the Empire!
@[email protected] wrote:
Roman public latrines were, counterintuitively to modern Western cultural norms, places for socialization while you did your, ahem, business
This seems no different from today, thanks to modern technology. You can easily both socialize and take a dump at the same time. In fact, I’m taking a dump right now.
2000 years from now, some artist will make a depiction of you doing this and future people will be talking about it.
While taking a dump as well
Weren’t they against wearing pants in Rome?
Initially, yes! But men on the cold northern frontier started wearing pants to stop their knees from freezing off, and eventually the practice spread even to civilians in the Mediterranean.
O TEMPORA! O MORES!
