Ancient Roman Pee Collectors

The dirtiest job in ancient Rome.

Welcome to History’s Worst Paycheck, where we dig into the dirtiest, most dangerous, and downright worst jobs in human history.

Imagine walking the bustling streets of ancient Rome, dodging merchants, beggars, and the occasional loose chicken, when suddenly—you’re hit with a stench so powerful it nearly knocks you off your feet. You look around for the source of the putrid assault on your senses and then you see him: a man, hunched under the weight of a sloshing wooden bucket, its contents unmistakably yellow.

No, he hasn’t just spilled his drink. He’s collecting urine.

Yes, you read that right. In ancient Rome, human urine wasn’t just waste—it was big business. It was a key ingredient in one of the city’s most vital industries: laundry. And where there was a need, there was a job—one of the most thankless, humiliating, and foul-smelling gigs in all of history.

These men were the fullones’ secret weapon, gathering public urine from latrines, chamber pots, and even roadside collection jars, all to be used in washing togas whiter than white. They were laughed at, shunned, and probably avoided at dinner parties. And yet, their work was so important that even the Emperor got involved—by slapping a tax on it.

But how did one survive a job like this? How much did they earn? And—perhaps most disturbingly—what happened when things went horribly, horribly wrong?

Join us in Episode 1 of History’s Worst Paycheck as we dive into the life of a Roman urine collector. We’ll uncover shocking stories, disgusting details, and one incident so disastrous it nearly shut down the entire pee-based economy.

Trust us—you won’t look at your laundry the same way again.

Listen now… if you dare.