the corner office

Via Andrew Sullivan, a BBC article about the less glamorous side of archaeology:

Archaeologists in Germany say they may have found a lavatory where Martin Luther launched the Reformation of the Christian church in the 16th Century.

The stone room is in a newly-unearthed annex to Luther's house in Wittenberg.

Luther is quoted as saying he was "in cloaca", or in the sewer, when he was inspired to argue that salvation is granted because of faith, not deeds.

The scholar suffered from constipation and spent many hours in contemplation on the toilet seat.

Hehe. Some might write it off as childish humour but oh man, it fits perfectly (or not, as the case may be). Puuuuush. Straaaaaaain. Gasp. Puuuuuuush. Straaaaaaaain. Light-headed, elevated blood pressure, lack of oxygen, next thing you're having a religious experience.

But this is the zinger for me:

Luther left a candid catalogue of his battle with constipation but despite this wealth of information, certain key details remain obscure - such as what the great reformer may have used in place of toilet paper.

"We still don't know what was used for wiping in those days," says Dr Treu. The paper of the time, he says, would have been too expensive and critically, "too stiff" for the purpose.

We don't know what people used before someone invented bogroll? The mind boggles.