Toilets in Ancient Greece and Rome

Greek Latrines


Ancient Greeks constructed public latrines—stone benches with holes arranged in rows over drainage channels.

These communal toilets were social spaces, sometimes equipped with running water for flushing.

Roman Innovations


The Romans took sanitation to new heights with public baths, sewers, and toilets.

  • Public Latrines: Large communal toilets with marble seats and running water beneath to carry waste away.


  • Cloaca Maxima: One of the world's earliest sewage systems, draining Rome's wastewater into the Tiber River.


  • Private Toilets: Wealthy Romans often had private toilets connected to the sewer system.



Roman sanitation infrastructure set standards for urban hygiene in the ancient world.

 Sanitation in Medieval Europe


Decline After Rome


Following the fall of the Roman Empire, much of the sophisticated sanitation infrastructure deteriorated.

Medieval cities lacked organized waste disposal. Chamber pots were emptied into streets or rivers, creating unsanitary conditions.

Garderobes and Privies


Castles and manors used garderobes—small rooms projecting from walls where waste dropped into moats or pits.

Privies were basic outdoor toilets, often shared by many.

Public Health Issues


The lack of sanitation contributed to frequent outbreaks of disease, including the Black Death shutdown123

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