Certainly not papyrus or parchment! Popular with tourists are the slabs of marble with holes in them that served as public toilets. We sat on them at Ephesus. What's the deal with the pear-shaped holes? Senators and others who may have strolled along the agora would have modestly sat on the toilets, arranging the folds of their robes to cover all private parts. If they did not have slaves accompanying them to take care of necessities, they had to do it themselves. A natural sea sponge attached to a long stick served as the wiping device. The smaller part of the toilet opening, like the neck of the pear, was large enough for the sponge. When it was withdrawn, it was cleaned in the water trough and left for the next person using the public toilets.
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