The person entering the latrine would first take a sponge stick from the pool in front of him and sit on the wooden or marble keyhole-shaped benches. The person who saw what he needed would clean himself with the sponge stick by using the canal in front of which fresh water was constantly flowing, and then put the sponge stick back into the pool so that others could use it. The pool in the middle of the latrine is noteworthy for its features such as the fact that it was built to drown out the sounds of people emptying side by side, the use of exotic flowers grown in the prytaneion at the exit of the latrine, and the fact that the marbles were first sent to the slaves for heating (rumor, not confirmed, but probable) because they were cold, and then used by the bourgeoisie. It is also a place for socializing. For example, there must have been dialogues like this.
- Ahh Caesar, I have diarrhea again today.
- You see me, Hadrian, I’ve been here 40 minutes and I’m constipated. I’m glad you came, there was no one to talk to. These slaves are very disturbing.
- Yes, I’m aware of that, don’t stop talking about the motherland and the nation, throw in some religious rhetoric, embellish it with phrases like “Jupiter is with me”.
- Yes, I’ll build a temple for Jupiter, they are starving, but that will silence them.
- Without religion they’d tear us apart. Good thing we have Jupiter. I tell the priests to say: “Jupiter says to be thankful, to be content with little, it’s the other side that counts” and all the slaves like it.
- While we are living in paradise, they don’t mind pennies and hunger in the hope of paradise.
- Stop, ohh, I am relieved.
Religion and ignorance alone will not satisfy the people. That’s what armed security forces are for. Do not compare the values of the past with the values of today.
