Oatmeal Soap FAQs

What is Mount Sapo?

Mount Sapo, according to legend, was the site of a roman temple used for animal sacrifices. The often burnt animal offerings would wash down the mountain during rainstorms into the banks of the Tiber River. This mix of wood ash and animal tallow purportedly produced a soap-like substance that could be used to wash bodies and clothes. The Latin word sapo means soap and the legend of Mount Sapo is commonly credited with the inadvertent invention of soap. The truth however is that this story is most likely myth due to the fact that animal sacrifices wouldn’t yield enough fat to produce soap.

What was one contributing factor of medieval plagues?

After The fall of the Roman Empire, bathing declined rapidly. In fact, it was commonly believed that bathing would allow illness to enter the body and make one sick. This general lack of hygiene greatly contributed to the many plagues of the Dark Ages including the Black Death of the 1300’s. It is interesting that this belief persisted considering that in The Old Testament Moses laid out many strictures that promoted bathing and cleanliness. It is likely that these proscriptions went largely unnoticed due to the fact that most people of the day were illiterate.

What is detergent?

Detergent was first developed by the Germans during World War I. Because of the blockade and many other factors, the Germans were unable to obtain the requisite amount of animal fats to produce viable soap. To this end they invented detergent through a chemical process that allowed them to clean themselves and clothing with a product synthesized in a lab. Though nothing beats traditional soap for personal hygiene, detergents have proved very useful in many applications from washing clothes to washing dishes.