Comment by retrac

> why would you reach around with a long stick to clean yourself? How would that even work?

Roman toilets usually had a slot cut into them allowing access from the front underneath: https://i0.wp.com/followinghadrian.com/wp-content/uploads/20... sometimes right down to the floor.

You can see how someone might get the idea. Though honestly it could have been just to make it easier to clean them.