The internet is a place of endless discovery, but sometimes the things we learn are more shocking than enlightening. A wave of collective horror has recently swept across social media and online forums as people uncover the true meaning of a sexual practice known as a “Roman shower.” The term, which sounds like it could be an ancient hygiene ritual or a type of firework, is anything but. For those with a sensitive disposition, the details that follow may be best avoided.
So, what exactly is a Roman shower? It is a consensual sexual act where one partner vomits on the other. The revelation has left many people utterly aghast, with numerous online commenters expressing their disbelief and disgust. On forums discussing the topic, reactions range from stunned silence to outright rejection. One individual simply stated it was not something they would ever want to try, while another expressed that the very idea was enough to eliminate any curiosity they had about unconventional sexual practices.
The name itself is rooted in a widespread and long-standing misconception about ancient Roman culture. Many people have heard the story of lavish Roman feasts where the wealthy elite would gorge themselves on food and wine. According to the popular myth, they would then retreat to a room called a “vomitorium” to deliberately make themselves sick, thereby clearing their stomachs to return to the banquet and continue eating. This tale has been cited for centuries as an example of ultimate decadence and gluttony.
However, historians have repeatedly clarified that this story is entirely false. In reality, a vomitorium was not a room for purging food. It was an architectural feature in Roman amphitheaters and stadiums—a wide passageway designed to allow large crowds to exit quickly after an event. The name comes from the Latin verb “vomere,” meaning “to spew forth,” a metaphor for how the structures efficiently disgorged thousands of people onto the streets. The term is still sometimes used in modern theater to refer to stage exits.
Despite the historical correction, the myth has proven to be tenacious, and its legacy lives on in the naming of this extreme fetish. The “Roman shower” takes its name from this inaccurate portrayal of Roman excess, linking the act of vomiting to ancient decadence. For the vast majority who are just now learning about it, the discovery is a disturbing one, serving as a reminder that the depths of human sexuality can sometimes venture into territories that are, for most, completely unimaginable and unsettling.
