Old Reliable Seat

use of the toilet has a long history

Old Reliable Seat

toilet, outhouse, commode, 

privy, restroom, and the biffy,

a needed necessity in our 

society. 

so let out a load just relax 

exhale and explode.

potty, small house, powder

room, porcelain throne, 

latrine, stool, house of 

ease, facilities, 

john, can and wash room, 

just to name a few.

beginning from the old testament, 

and 1990-1700 BC through the 

time of Alexander the Great to 

about 300 BC.

as for the use of the toilet 

sanitization was decreed 

indefinitely.

recorded in the old testament, 

through inspired writers,

these men can attest 

to this private 

matter and did explain in detail.

jewish people descended from 

abrabram and his family.

these hebrews traveled between, 

1990 and 1700 BC. 

but in 1450-1400 BC, the pit toilet 

was constructed 

from local rubble on the double, 

at the summit on mount sinai 

in egypt, 

divine instruction guided and

the way did lead.

after all, the Jewish people 

were very traditional in their 

teachings and had strict rules 

including personal hygiene and 

public sanitation, ridding 

themselves of unclean body 

waste. 

the people did relate and

did not hesitate. 

they had a place outside 

of the camp. 

they did go out there

to relieve themselves, 

taking great care and 

having a spade among 

their tools, 

they did squat or sit down 

outside to do their duty. 

they would dig a hole

and turn to cover up the 

excrement when they were 

finished.

they were discreetly 

self-efficient.

the new testament suggests

that asia minor and the levant 

had a large greek culture

amongst themselves.

during the campaign of alexander 

the great's lengthy crusade from 

334 through 323 BC, 

healthy standards were achieved. 

nevertheless many jewish people 

had picked up the belief that the 

babylonian idea of sulak, 

lurker of the latrine or demon of 

the privy did truly exist. 

they blamed this unclean spirit for 

physical and spiritual affliction

during their exile in babylon.

they were told that demons are 

around them everywhere. 

all were terrified and totally scared

of this haunting affair.

the roman goddess fortuna 

was believed to protect the latrine 

from danger. 

an inscription on this fresco warns 

toilet users to beware and they 

did pay great attention to this,

having fear they did understand

and adhere. 

they believed that theses evil 

entities lurked in their toilets

and could possess or 

provoke those who approached. 

they said demons could cast 

a spell on you.

it would cause you to die or 

you could get deathly sick.

this was a risk but they all did

persist.

meanwhile, 

infrastructure is now

included water 

supplies and sanitation, 

skillfully regulated.

marble-topped toilets were used 

by the roman empire to fuse.

a communal design was defined.

no private stalls for you.

it was an uncomfortable and 

embarrassing view.

the europeans did not have 

toilet paper until many years later. 

romans of the higher 

class used a tersorium.

it was a sponge mounted on 

a stick and cleanup had never 

been that quick. 

a sponge was dipped into a 

water channel that ran in front 

of the row of communal toilet 

handles in the latrine.

they rinsed off in that channel 

after each use. 

If there was no channel 

of running water, a bucket of 

salt water or vinegar water would 

be installed and used as the remedy

to cleanse.

this settlement in that area was 

founded in the 10th century BC, 

but was relocated in 292 BC.

2000 years ago, under one of 

rome's great palaces, 

lay a damp chamber that had 

a bench with 50 perforated holes,

the size of dinner plates. 

they ran along the wall. 

this was a stinky and smelly 

place to get rid yourself 

of body waste.

invention of some of the first 

toilets are attributed to 

mesopotamia in fourth 

millennium BC. 

these were  non-flushing toilets 

with pits 4.5 meters deep, 

lined with hollow 

ceramic cylinders,

1 meter in diameter 

in comparison.

when people sat or squatted 

over the toilet their excrement 

stayed inside the cylinders, 

when expelled and delivered. 

liquids did seep outwards, 

through perforated rings. 

it was astonishing.

however, health benefits 

did separate people from their

waste. 

thus preventing the fecal 

oral spread of diseases 

to face.

1,000 years have since passed 

and there is the capacity to flush 

the toilet at last. 

unfortunately only for the elite.

11th-century castle-building 

is peeking. 

chamber pots were supplemented 

with toilets ongoing and they 

were integrated 

into the architecture. 

presto the first 

flushing commode.

in the early bathroom era, 

hanging your clothes in the 

toilet shaft was a dying fad. 

ammonia from urine killed 

the flees on contact. 

this was a fact.

the shafts ran vertically 

down to the ground.

shafts soon evolved into rooms 

that protruded from the 

castle with bottomless bays.

the first modern flushable toilet

was was described in 1596 by 

sir john harrington,

who was granted the first patent 

for a flushing toilet,

and everyone bought it.

he being an English courtier 

and the godson 

of queen elizabeth I. 

in 1906, william sloan

made his famous invention,

the flushometer.

a flushing toilet valve.

incorporating it with the toilet,

did fit.

his patented design was 

was very successful.

now available the public,

this  genius idea, 

his patrons loved it. 

the modern toilet of today 

uses 60 percent water without 

a weak flow or overflowing,

mechanics are ongoing.

toilets come in different 

colors and styles.

one touch flushing action, 

without any hassle.

convenient invention indeed.

if you need to let off a load, 

relax, exhale let it flow, 

perhaps explode,

when it's time to go.

our old reliable seat,

an important invention

indeed.

Author's Note

Please read my poem. I really like sharing historical events. I am open to comments, suggestions and review.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

This was very educational. A toilet seat must be soft and secure. One of the simple pleasure we need. I liked the history written dear friend.
Coyote

[wordman]

lol,arent you glad we have evolved,and i wonder if wiping with the finger has any merit..