Our Founder recently visited an archaeological site near Rome (Italy) to look for some toilets. Much to her surprise, the site was impressive in size and conservation. Imagine taking an hour-long train ride from Rome to discover one of the most well-preserved ancient Roman cities. That’s where you’ll find Ostia Antica. Here, we’ll share some information about the site’s water and sanitation systems and explain Roman public toilets a bit more.
About Ostia Antica
Founded in 620 BC, Ostia Antica served as Rome's bustling port city, facilitating trade routes throughout the Mediterranean. The city's history reads like an ancient drama - complete with Roman colonization, pirate raids, and civil war before its eventual decline after Constantine the Great's reign.
Ostia particularly adapted its water use to meet the needs of its growing population. Initially, residents relied on groundwater and rainwater collected in cisterns. However, as the city expanded in the 1st century AD, engineers constructed an impressive aqueduct system that would serve the community for the next four centuries. The water distribution network included large fountains along main streets and smaller ones tucked away in alleyways, where residents would collect their daily water supply.
From left to right: A large public fountain, a well on the main street area, and a side-street fountain (Credit: FLUSH/KWorsham)
What was most interesting about the area for us, though, were (of course) the public toilets. The public toilet facility discovered in Ostia offers a glimpse into ancient Roman sanitation practices. Constructed in the 2nd century AD within two converted shops, this facility continued to be updated until the 4th century AD. The layout featured 20 seats arranged along three sides of the room - a design that might make modern visitors uncomfortable but reflects the communal nature of Roman society.
The engineering behind these facilities was surprisingly sophisticated. Beneath the seats, a drainage system utilized running water to carry waste away - a feature that would not become common again in many parts of Europe for over a millennium. The architects even included practical amenities like a handwashing basin near the revolving doors, showing an understanding of basic hygiene principles.
Roman Public Toilets
The Romans adopted the public toilet methods seen in Ancient Greece. While many think that the Romans invented sanitation systems, the truth is that they were really good at implementing large engineering projects across a large scale – the entire Roman Empire, even.
Ostia’s toilets are typical of other public toilets found in Ancient Rome. We don’t really know how the toilets were used daily by people – archaeologists have only recently cared about toilets in their sites – and Romans didn’t write about it much. Even when we were at Ostia’s bookshop looking for more toilet information, only half a sentence usually acknowledged the public toilets at the site before moving on.
Different angles of Ostia's public toilets (Credit: FLUSH/KWorsham)
What we do know, however, is that these grand public facilities weren't without their challenges. Recent archaeological studies have revealed that Roman sewers, long celebrated as a pinnacle of ancient engineering, weren't as effective as previously thought. The systems required regular maintenance to prevent silt blockages, and cleaning these sewers was both dangerous and unpleasant.
The public toilets also reflected Roman spiritual beliefs. Many facilities included small shrines to Fortuna, the goddess believed to protect users from illness-causing demons. This spiritual aspect might explain why there's notably less graffiti in public latrines compared to other Roman spaces—people wanted to minimize their time in these places, believing them to be inhabited by supernatural forces. Some accounts even describe methane gas buildup causing flames from the toilet holes, reinforcing these supernatural fears.
What About Private Roman Toilets?
While Ostia's public facilities showcase the grandeur of Roman engineering, the reality for most Romans was quite different. Private toilet facilities, when they existed, were typically more basic affairs. They usually consisted of simple stone or wooden seats positioned over cesspits, and unlike their public counterparts, these weren't typically connected to the main sewer system.
Practicality influenced the location of private toilets, which were often situated near or in kitchens. This placement made sense as the facilities doubled as disposal points for food waste. When the cesspits filled up, they would be emptied, and the contents often were sold as agricultural fertilizer—an early example of waste recycling.
The solutions were less dignified for those without access to private facilities. Chamber pots were common. Still, their contents often ended up in the streets or cesspits along public roads. The Roman satirist Juvenal even wrote about pedestrians being soaked by chamber pot contents thrown from upper-story windows. Even advanced civilizations struggled with basic sanitation challenges, it seems.
While we often romanticize Ancient Rome, the reality was far from our sanitized modern imagination. Even in sophisticated cities like Ostia, human waste was a persistent problem in streets and public spaces. This historical perspective helps us appreciate how far we've come in public sanitation and the ongoing challenges many communities still face in developing effective waste management systems today.
