Here in this small part of world where civilization was born, the man from the beginning was charmed by the magic of this fruit of the sea the sponge and was encouraged to collect and use it in his life.
Homer in the Iliad puts a sponge into the hands of god Hephaestus who cleans his face, hands and chest before wearing his jacket.
In the Odyssey the servants of the palace of Odysseus clean with "polytrypa" sponges Royal tables after meals wasteful of the suitors of Penelope.
Is even somewhere and like sport for the Olympics. Aristotle observed that sponges have a sense and argued that these animals, which proved later to belong to the category of poroforon.
For the Romans and the Byzantines sponge found use in writing, painting, medicine and pharmaceuticals and the military.
Even the crucifixion of Christ referred to the use of the soldier's wetting the lips of Jesus.