# Where's my butt?!?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-my-butt/691291>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 21, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-my-butt/691291 "2014-06-21T14:28:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2026, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-my-butt/691291/23 "2026-11-14T14:46:45Z")

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> [@CalMeacham](#):
>
> Incidentally, the ancient Romans used to use a sponge on a stick

> [@TreacherousCretin](#):
>
> Those extension wipers cry out for a slangy name. Turd Tongs?

The traditional terms were  
“xylospongium” in Greek  
“tersorium” in Latin.

> **[Xylospongium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylospongium)**
>
> The xylospongium, also known as a tersorium, or a "sponge on a stick", was a hygiene utensil found in ancient Roman latrines, consisting of a wooden stick (Greek: ξύλον, xylon) with a sea sponge (Greek: σπόγγος, spongos) fixed at one end. Academics disagree as to its exact use, primarily because the primary sources are vague. It has traditionally been assumed to be a type of shared anal hygiene utensil used to wipe after defecating, and the sponge cleaned in vinegar or water (sometimes salt water...

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**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-my-butt/691291/24 "2026-11-14T19:50:25Z")

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[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2PZFEtZrTw4/maxresdefault.jpg "I wash myself with a rag on a stick") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PZFEtZrTw4)

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**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2026, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-my-butt/691291/25 "2026-11-14T21:30:19Z")

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I know where you can find a flashlight and a six-man search team.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-my-butt/691291/26 "2026-11-14T23:09:56Z")

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[Moderating]  
Since this was bumped by accident, I’m just going to close this.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2026, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-my-butt/691291/27 "2026-11-14T23:10:02Z")

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Closed on November 14, 2026, 11:10pm UTC



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