Ancient Roman Bidet?

From: Poetic Justice (paradiselost_at_webtv.net)
Date: 03/26/05 

Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 18:50:37 -0500

I've been to Italy 8x and Central Greece 2x. I have an strong interest
in ancient history which is the only reason for my travels. Also I'm
pretty good for a tourist:) in understanding off-the-beaten track scant
remains and knowing what they were and generally what period they are
from.

 A couple of weeks ago I came upon a piece that peaked my curiosity and
I had never seen anything like it before. Also I was surprised that it
was just lying around based the condition and the oddity of it.

 It's located basically between the Upper Roman Forum and the entrance
to the Palatine Hill (the Farnese Aviary entrance off the Via Nova) but
more closer to the Farnese entrance.
 It is not in situ but was placed with a few other fragments as
decorations in a small modern triangular area (grass, trees, shubs
~15mx15mx15m) with the footpaths on each of the 3 sides.
 It is in perfect condition and actually could be installed in a modern
house just as is.
  I looked it closely and can only conclude that it's a bidet. I've
never seen an ancient water basin like it.
 
 It was an expensive piece to make of what I *believe* is polished grey
granite, with very good workmanship.
 It is probably *alittle* smaller than this but it will help me with
metric measurements:).

 Rectangular Base: 1m x .75m and .25m thick.   There is an
oval/teardrop basin in the center. The wide part is in the center but
the narrower roundish end protudes past the long (1m) front edge side.
  This protrusion (say .2m) is very nicely rounded on the top and
also on the bottom where it beautifully rounds itself out back into the
base.

 If you sat on it your bottom would be over the wide part of the basin
and your legs would be on both sides of this short protrusion. And you
would have room to reach into this protrusion and cup water in your hand
to wash the genital area. Also plenty of room for the backside area.
 Actually it isn't much smaller than a modern bidet just more teardrop
shaped.

  On the protrusion side set back alittle from the edge there are 2
grooves about as wide as a thumb.
 They start at the left and right side edge of the block. They are very
shallow at the edge and get slightly deeper as they go towards and into
the basin.
  A straight groove would have worked fine but these have a slight
curve like a shallow wave, this was done just for the artistic value of
the piece I believe.
 
 So any water splashed onto the flat part of this piece if it had a
slight slant to it would flow into these 2 grooves and then into the
basin. I cannot see these shallow inclined grooves serving any other
purpose.

 This piece is unfinished (rough cut) on the 2 sides and the back, so
those 3 sides were hidden in it's placement (walls, counter, supporting
structure?).

  Also the basin has a drain hole in the wide part, this drain hole
is slightly larger than a modern bathroom sink drain.

 Now in the general area it is placed in had rich aristocratic homes
from the early Republic to the early Imperial Age. They were destroyed
in the 64AD Fire and Nero built over them with his Domus Aurea project.

 Bottomline: This is an expensive luxury piece. It is in perfect
condition. Water was used in it. An odd protrusion sticks out from it.

 Guessing: Because of it's perfect condition it was probably buried
until the excavations in the late 19th-early 20th C. Baths would have
been either in the basement (like the nearby excavated Republican House)
or on the ground floor. After the Fire Nero builds over the rubble that
covers the basement and possibly the ground floor of these rich homes
and apartments.
 Another possibilty but doubtful I think is that is was from the
demolition of the Renaissance (Farnese) bldgs and was left behind?
Thanks...Regards, Walter
X-Posted to sci.archaeology and soc.history.ancient