When to use shower/bath

[Hobo_With_A_Scythe]

Okay, I have a complaint.

I see quite a few authors who use the shower wrong.

A lot of stories have ancient/medieval settings and the problem is that I constantlly see authors writing that their character had a shower. Now I'm all for personal hygiene and all but they didn't have showers back in the dark ages where they fought with swords, spears and clubs. They used wooden tubs, washbasins or bathed in the nearby river if it was available.

Even using a wooden tub was rare as most times as only the wealthy could afford them. Most times peasants used a small washbasin, a cloth and soap.

So please authors, use the appropriate word for your setting as seeing a shower written in an ancient/medieval setting certainly takes you out of the story.

It's these little details which can elevate your story above others.

 

[StrongArm]

Okay, I have a complaint.

I see quite a few authors who use the shower wrong.

A lot of stories have ancient/medieval settings and the problem is that I constantlly see authors writing that their character had a shower. Now I'm all for personal hygiene and all but they didn't have showers back in the dark ages where they fought with swords, spears and clubs. They used wooden tubs, washbasins or bathed in the nearby river if it was available.

Even using a wooden tub was rare as most times as only the wealthy could afford them. Most times peasants used a small washbasin, a cloth and soap.

So please authors, use the appropriate word for your setting as seeing a shower written in an ancient/medieval setting certainly takes you out of the story.

It's these little details which can elevate your story above others.

Its cool that you mention this. I get so tired of the false narrative that medieval peasants never bathed. They Bathed! They just didnt have access to big bathtubs (unless they lived in certain cities where bathhouses were a thing).

 

[RepresentingWrath]

 

[ACertainPassingUser]

Yep, if there's shower there should be a semblance of pump water technology from either Otherworlder or the MC building them in their territory or something.

But yeah, irrigation in medieval times isn't the best, so water is quite rare and getting water is quite hard, even if your residence is close to River or a lake. At that time there were no well drilling machines, so they can only dig traditionally before finding endless rock or something, or actually finding water if they're lucky.

Water taste like dirt, rock, and mud as water filtration technologies is literally medieval age ; it doesn't exist. Royalty may get some better filtered water, and the castle and building have better ventilation. But there's a chance of your building smell like real shit if the plumbing system doesn't exist yet.

 

[Rhaps]

This is the reason why I have my stories set in modern time or 19th century settings, since showers are invented in the latter half of the 18th century.

Too much effort needed to explain how and why the plumbing system works.

 

[Cipiteca396]

Might not make sense in a medieval setting... But the Egyptians loved dumping water on their heads, or had servants do it for them. The Greeks and Romans did it even better, with their famous Lead Pipes.

If your world isn't historical Earth it's fine. Even if it is Earth, you can probably manage it just fine.

I forgot to mention waterfalls...

 

[ACertainPassingUser]

Too much effort needed to explain how and why the plumbing system works.

Yep, the effort might as well spent to become actual plumbing layout engineer/planner or something.

 

[Tyranomaster]

The Greeks and Romans did it even better, with their famous Lead Pipes.

All rights reserved. Approved by Emperor Caligula, and his favorite friend Incitatus.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

How do I have showers in my medieval European ambient setting?

 

[Theirl]

Okay, I have a complaint.

I see quite a few authors who use the shower wrong.

A lot of stories have ancient/medieval settings and the problem is that I constantlly see authors writing that their character had a shower. Now I'm all for personal hygiene and all but they didn't have showers back in the dark ages where they fought with swords, spears and clubs. They used wooden tubs, washbasins or bathed in the nearby river if it was available.

Even using a wooden tub was rare as most times as only the wealthy could afford them. Most times peasants used a small washbasin, a cloth and soap.

So please authors, use the appropriate word for your setting as seeing a shower written in an ancient/medieval setting certainly takes you out of the story.

It's these little details which can elevate your story above others.

what u want to describe how people would use a sponge on a stick to clean their arses?

 

[Rhaps]

what u want to describe how people would use a sponge on a stick to clean their arses?

It's pretty neat, I think Daybreak on Hyperion actually describe it.

 

[Theirl]

It's pretty neat, I think Daybreak on Hyperion actually describe it.

wait really?

 

[Rhaps]

wait really?

The author went into details too, it's a great read if you are into historically accurate things. Like Roman style public restroom, with no separation wall and the poop stick.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

 

[Shard]

It isn't really hard to make a primitive shower if you want one. Basin with a stopper you can remove via lever/pulley, make a showerhead out of whatever material and attached to bottom where the stopper sits. Take a few trips with a bucket to fill it up, stand under, pull the stopper, wash as quick as possible before you run out of water. If you have magic, then you have plenty of other methods too.

 

[Story_Marc]

This is the reason why I have my stories set in modern time or 19th century settings, since showers are invented in the latter half of the 18th century.

Too much effort needed to explain how and why the plumbing system works.

Eh, you really don't have to go into detail about such things unless you make a point to. There will be a minority who care about the tiny things, but the majority of people don't give a damn because it isn't the actual story and most people realize this is fiction, not a documentary about daily life in the past.

 

[ForestDweller]

My characters just use water magic to wash themselves. ?

But yeah, I never say shower, only baths.

 

[J_Chemist]