If you go to the public latrine at Ephesus today, it looks pretty awesome. It's out in the air. Nice views in all directions. If you can get over the communal nature of it, it seems like a fantastic spot to do your business.

In Roman times, public latrines were places of last resort. They were typically enclosed, poorly ventilated, and notorious for rats and explosions[1]. For most Romans, making it home to your own commode was vastly preferred.

This brings us to a funny quirk of roman home design. Toilets were usually located in kitchens and "flushed" with wastewater from the kitchen. In most homes these toilets were connected to cesspits that were periodically emptied, and not to the sewers.

[1]https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-europe/rats-e...