xylospongium xylospongium the xylospongium or tersorium, also known as "sponge on a stick", was a hygienic utensil used by ancient romans to wipe their anus after defecating, consisting of a wooden stick (greek: ξύλον, xylon) with a sea sponge (greek: σπόγγος, spongos) fixed at one end. a replica xylospongium (sponge on a stick) ancient roman latrines in ostia antica the tersorium was shared by people using public latrines. to clean the sponge, they simply washed it in a bucket with water and salt or vinegar. this became a breeding ground for bacteria, causing the spread of disease among those using the latrines such as typhoid and cholera. in classical antiquity a xylospongium might be used as a toilet brush. in the baths of the seven sages in ostia, a fresco from the 2nd century contains the inscription (u)taris xylosphongio which is the first known mention of the term. also in the early second century a papyrus letter of claudius terentianus to his father claudius tiberianus uses the term xylespongium in a phrase. in the middle of the first century, the roman philosopher seneca reported that a germanic gladiator had committed suicide with a sponge on a stick. according to seneca, the gladiator hid himself in the latrine of an amphitheater and pushed the wooden stick into his gullet and choked to death.