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It seems that humans have scribbled on bathroom surfaces since the dawn of time with dirty jokes.
Archaeologists have discovered a pair of mosaics in Roman latrines illustrating well-known mythological scenes, each with its own torrid twist.
The 1,800-year-old mosaics, including an image of Narcissus admiring the reflection of his own penis, are an incredibly rare example of mosaic paving in the old latrines.
Time has weighed on ancient art and today only half of Narcissus' scene remains. But, fortunately, researchers note that "it's the good half."
The mosaics present humorous versions of the stories of Narcisse and Ganymede. Instead of looking at his own face in the reflection of water, as the myth says, we can see the latrine Narcissus (left) who looks admiringly at his phallus. In the other scene, Zeus – in the form of a heron – is shown cleaning the penis of Ganymede with a sponge (right)
According to Live Science, mosaics have been found in the coastal town of Antiochia ad Cragum, Turkey.
While the story of Narcissus generally describes it as being beautiful, the man represented in this particular mosaic has a long and unsightly nose.
Instead of looking at one's own face in the reflection of water, as the myth goes, one can see the Narcissus latrine gazing admiringly at its phallus.
Time has weighed on ancient art and only half of this scene remains. But, fortunately, the researchers told Live Science: "That's the good half."
The team discovered the bizarre works of art near the end of the excavations this summer and temporarily hid them to preserve them.
In the other scene, the myth of Zeus and the kidnapping of the Trojan boy Ganymede were also twisted, instead showing Zeus – in the form of a heron – cleaning Ganymede's penis with a sponge.
"We were stunned by what we were looking at," Michael Hoff, an archaeologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, told LiveScience.
"You have to understand the myths to make it really alive, but the humor of the bathroom is a bit universal, in the end."
The team discovered the bizarre works of art towards the end of the excavations this summer and temporarily hid them to preserve them, according to Live Science.
Researchers say there are only a few latrines paved with mosaics that are known to exist at the time.
The mosaics were found in the coastal town of Antiochia ad Cragum, Turkey. An interactive 3D model of the site is presented above.
The humor of the bathroom is only one of the many remarkable discoveries of the Roman era made at Antiochia ad Cragum.
Excavations on the site, abandoned in the eleventh century, have discovered ancient baths, coins and even a mysterious skeleton.
According to Live Science, the latrine was probably a public space designed for use by men. It had clean water channels and marble or wooden seats.
WHY DO ROMAINS BUILD FOUNTAINS AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WATER?
From the majesty of their aqueducts and fountains to the socialization and relaxation of the public baths, the Roman obsession with water has long been documented.
For the ancient Romans, water was a gift from the gods and a fundamental part of life, health and hygiene, with each source of water protected by its god or nymph.
Such superstitions are key elements of many Roman myths, including that of the water nymph Egeria – a lover and wife of Numa Pompilius, one of the seven kings of Rome.
This image shows a reconstruction of a Roman courtyard fountain in Pompeii dating from the 1st century AD.
The Roman capital is famous for its multitude of fountains, including those located in front of the Spanish steps, in Piazza Navona.
The ancient Romans considered water not only as a necessity of life, but also as an element of beauty.
The private gardens found in the remains of the Roman Empire are also filled with water games.
These range from puddles of calm water to simple bubbling basins through elaborate creations on several levels.
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