For something almost everyone uses every day, the toilet has a bit of mystery and taboo about it. The appliance has undoubtedly had a massive impact on the modernization of plumbing, but its beginnings were rather humble. Below is a short look at the journey from simple stone thrones to porcelain toilets in nearly every home and a port-a-potty in almost every outdoor gathering space.

Toilets Throughout Time

Ancient Toilets

Many of the early “toilets” were a far cry from the clean toilet bowls and convenient port-a-potty variations we use today, but a fairly modern version emerged surprisingly fast. Almost 4,500 years ago, the people of the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia were already constructing systems of pipes to funnel waste away from homes. Many of these toilets were made from limestone with keyhole-like openings for comfort. Around 500 years after the emergence of those early sewer systems, the Greek island of Crete developed a rudimentary flushing system to enhance waste disposal. After rain collected in rooftop containers, people used it to flush away the waste in the toilet.

Holes, Pots, & Moats

Various forms of early toilets were used in the years to come, with alternative disposal methods like chamber pots also becoming quite popular. The portability of these vessels could even be considered a port-a-potty prototype.

A medieval form of waste disposal, however, illustrates a filthier side of the toilet’s history. Castles often had a closet specifically used for bathroom needs. A familiar hole served as the seat, but the waste wasn’t flushed away or collected in a vessel. Instead, it dropped out of a chute, down the exterior wall, and into the property’s moat. When it didn’t reach the water, however, it would remain on the castle wall until eventually washing away with the rain.

The “Modern” Toilet

In 1596, Sir John Harington, an English courtier who also happened to be the godson of Queen Elizabeth I, invented what we now recognize as the first modern toilet. His device featured a raised cistern with a downward pipe designed to carry waste away with water. Two were built; one for himself, and one for the queen. 

Harington’s invention, however, didn’t get the recognition it deserved. It wasn’t until about 200 years later that watchmaker Alexander Cummings created a toilet with an S-shaped pipe designed to keep foul odors at bay. This, understandably, was a hit, and the proliferation of the toilet soon began. It took various laws and, sadly, deaths from water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid to truly make the toilet ubiquitous. Today, modern waste systems and port-a-potties provide the ability to safely and sanitarily use the restroom wherever one goes.

If you need convenient and reliable port-a-potty rentals, Rocket Disposal & Greer Port-A-Potty Services in Rushville, IL, has the toilet solutions for you. With more than 500 portable toilets available — featuring basic toilets to modern units with built-in hand-washing stations — this family-owned and -operated company has the inventory to serve even the largest events and work zones. Their knowledgeable and friendly staff will help you find the right solution for your situation. Visit the website for more information on available rentals, or call (217) 322-6310 to speak with a representative.