Ecological sanitation in Roman times

"Gastrum urinarum" (urine containers) gave men the opportunity to urinate in the public free of charge. Craftsment from the wool and leather industries put amphorae with broken tops at the doors of their workshops in which men could urinate. The urine was then used to clean wool and animal skins. Urine had an economic value.

This practice was even considered as a potential for generating public income. Contemplating a tax reform, the Romen emperor Vespasian (69-79 A.D.) wanted to tax these urine amphorae. For this, he was criticised by his son, Titus,

The Historian Sueton documents the reaction of Vespasian: Vespasian puts the first coin oft his tax under the nose of Titus and asked him whether the money had a bad odour. When Titus responded that it did not. Vespasian mentioned: ... and yet these coinse are derived from urine.

This story leads to the well-known quotation: Pecunia non olet - money doesn't stink.