Ancient Rome, a city known for its grandeur and sophistication, was often plagued by a multitude of unpleasant odors. The streets were narrow and winding, with poor waste management and sanitation systems, leading to a potent mix of smells that would be unbearable to modern noses. Human waste, rotting food, and decaying animal carcasses were just a few of the foul odors that wafted through the air.
The city’s many public toilets, known as latrinae, were often little more than holes in the ground or simple seats over trenches, which would overflow and spill onto the streets. The smell of urine and feces would mingle with the stench of rotting garbage and the acrid smell of smoke from cooking fires and industrial activities. Even the elite couldn’t escape the pungent aromas, as the wealthy homes had cesspits that needed regular emptying.
Rome’s famous sewers, the Cloaca Maxima, were not always effective in removing waste, and the Tiber River, which ran through the heart of the city, was heavily polluted with human and animal waste. The smell of the river would be particularly pungent during the hot summer months, when the water level was low and the stench of decay was at its worst. Despite the Romans’ many achievements in engineering and architecture, their city was often a smelly place to live.
