The xylospongium or tersorium, also known as a "sponge on a stick", was a utensil found in ancient Roman latrines, consisting of a wooden stick (Greek: ξύλον, xylon) with a sea sponge (Greek: σπόγγος, spongos) fixed at one end.
A replica xylospongium (sponge on a stick)Ancient Roman latrines in Ostia Antica
Academics disagree as to its exact use, about which the primary sources are vague. It has traditionally been assumed to be a type of shared anal hygiene utensil used to wipe after defecating, and the sponge cleaned in vinegar or water (sometimes salt water).[1][2][3][4] Other recent research suggests it was most likely a toilet brush.[5]
In the middle of the first century, the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger reported that a Germanic gladiator committed suicide with a sponge on a stick. According to Seneca, the gladiator hid himself in the latrine of an amphitheatre and pushed the wooden stick into his oesophagus and choked to death.[8]
^Garg, Pankaj; Singh, Pratiksha (July 2016). "Postdefecation Cleansing Methods: Tissue Paper or Water? An Analytical Review". Diseases of the Colon & Rectum. 59 (7): 696. doi:10.1097/DCR.0000000000000583. ISSN 0012-3706 – via Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
^Non magis quravit me pro xylesphongium ..., "He paid no more attention to me than to a sponge stick" (Michigan Papyri VIII 471 = CEL 146 = ChLA XLII 1220 29), "HGV". aquila.zaw.uni-heidelberg.de. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
^Seneca, Epistulae morales N. 70, vs. 20-21. ... lignum id, quod ad emundanda obscena adhaerente spongia positum est, totum in gulam farsit ..., "the stick, on which a sponge is placed for the cleaning of stuck filth, he stuffed all the way into his throat".
General referencesedit
Primary sourcesedit
Claudius Terentianus, Michigan Papyri VIII 471 (inv. 5393) = CEL 146 = ChLA XLII 1220 29.
Richard Neudecker: Die Pracht der Latrine. Zum Wandel öffentlicher Bedürfnisanstalten in der kaiserzeitlichen Stadt. Pfeil-Verlag, München 1994 (Studien zur antiken Stadt, Bd. 1) ISBN3-923871-86-4, pp. 36f.
Gilbert Wiplinger: "Der Gebrauch des Xylospongiums – eine neue Theorie zu den hygienischen Verhältnissen in römischen Latrinen". In: SPA . SANITAS PER AQUAM. Tagungsband des Internationalen Frontinus-Symposiums zur Technik – und Kulturgeschichte der antiken Thermen Aachen, 18. – 22. März 2009. Frontinus-Gesellschaft e.V. & Peeters, Leiden 2012. ISBN978-90-429-2661-5. pp. 295–304.
April 12, 2024
xylospongium, xylospongium, tersorium, also, known, sponge, stick, utensil, found, ancient, roman, latrines, consisting, wooden, stick, greek, ξύλον, xylon, with, sponge, greek, σπόγγος, spongos, fixed, replica, xylospongium, sponge, stick, ancient, roman, lat. The xylospongium or tersorium also known as a sponge on a stick was a utensil found in ancient Roman latrines consisting of a wooden stick Greek 3ylon xylon with a sea sponge Greek spoggos spongos fixed at one end A replica xylospongium sponge on a stick Ancient Roman latrines in Ostia AnticaAcademics disagree as to its exact use about which the primary sources are vague It has traditionally been assumed to be a type of shared anal hygiene utensil used to wipe after defecating and the sponge cleaned in vinegar or water sometimes salt water 1 2 3 4 Other recent research suggests it was most likely a toilet brush 5 In the Baths of the Seven Sages in Ostia a fresco from the 2nd century contains the Inscription u taris xylosphongio 6 which is the first known mention of the term Also in the early second century a papyrus letter of Claudius Terentianus to his father Claudius Tiberianus uses the term xylespongium in a phrase 7 In the middle of the first century the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger reported that a Germanic gladiator committed suicide with a sponge on a stick According to Seneca the gladiator hid himself in the latrine of an amphitheatre and pushed the wooden stick into his oesophagus and choked to death 8 See also editBidet shower Shit stickCitations edit Mirsky Steve Getting to the Bottom Scientific American 308 3 85 85 doi 10 1038 scientificamerican0313 85 Nash Stephen E What Did Ancient Romans Do Without Toilet Paper Sapiens Retrieved 4 June 2019 Charlier Philippe Brun Luc Pretre Clarisse Huynh Charlier Isabelle 2012 12 17 Toilet hygiene in the classical era BMJ 345 e8287 doi 10 1136 bmj e8287 ISSN 1756 1833 PMID 23247990 Garg Pankaj Singh Pratiksha July 2016 Postdefecation Cleansing Methods Tissue Paper or Water An Analytical Review Diseases of the Colon amp Rectum 59 7 696 doi 10 1097 DCR 0000000000000583 ISSN 0012 3706 via Lippincott Williams amp Wilkins Wiplinger 2012 S 300 301 L Annee epigraphique 1941 5 Non magis quravit me pro xylesphongium He paid no more attention to me than to a sponge stick Michigan Papyri VIII 471 CEL 146 ChLA XLII 1220 29 HGV aquila zaw uni heidelberg de Retrieved 2020 04 05 Seneca Epistulae morales N 70 vs 20 21 lignum id quod ad emundanda obscena adhaerente spongia positum est totum in gulam farsit the stick on which a sponge is placed for the cleaning of stuck filth he stuffed all the way into his throat General references editPrimary sources edit Claudius Terentianus Michigan Papyri VIII 471 inv 5393 CEL 146 ChLA XLII 1220 29 Seneca Epistulae morales Liber 8 70 20 Martial Epigrammata Liber 12 48 7 Secondary sources edit Richard Neudecker Die Pracht der Latrine Zum Wandel offentlicher Bedurfnisanstalten in der kaiserzeitlichen Stadt Pfeil Verlag Munchen 1994 Studien zur antiken Stadt Bd 1 ISBN 3 923871 86 4 pp 36f Gilbert Wiplinger Der Gebrauch des Xylospongiums eine neue Theorie zu den hygienischen Verhaltnissen in romischen Latrinen In SPA SANITAS PER AQUAM Tagungsband des Internationalen Frontinus Symposiums zur Technik und Kulturgeschichte der antiken Thermen Aachen 18 22 Marz 2009 Frontinus Gesellschaft e V amp Peeters Leiden 2012 ISBN 978 90 429 2661 5 pp 295 304 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Xylospongium amp oldid 1212353909, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
