Category: History > Urine
In ancient Rome, urine was a valuable commodity due to its high ammonia content, which made it an effective cleaning agent. Romans collected urine from public urinals and even from households, selling it to fullers—workers who cleaned and whitened woolen garments. The ammonia in urine acted as a powerful detergent, allowing fullers to remove stains and odors from clothing. This practice was so widespread that a tax was even levied on the collection of urine, known as the "urine tax" introduced by Emperor Vespasian in the first century AD. The saying "Money does not stink" (Pecunia non olet) is attributed to him, illustrating the pragmatic Roman attitude towards such unconventional resources. Thus, urine was not just waste to the Romans but a vital part of their textile industry and daily life.
