Roman Baths M.A. Anderson, 2006

Public Baths ► Existed in early Egyptian palaces ► Greeks: bathing rooms in palace of Knossos from 1700 BC. ► The Romans developed bathing to high degree of sophistication ► Roman baths were initially on a small scale: used simply for cleansing after physical training exercises. ► Balnea: private baths or neighborhood baths. ► Their popularity lead to Thermae: public baths.

The Thermae: Public Bath ► Excavations at Olympia, (Hellenistic era) show: ► From modest, functional buildings, with a cold pool, hot slipper baths, and a steam bath, The thermae developed into pleasure palaces. ► Their role expanded from one of facilitating cleanliness to one of making life as pleasant as possible. ► The opulence of the Roman bath embodies the essence of a culture that thrived on pleasure and leisure.

Roman Baths ► By the early 500’s A.D., there were almost 900 baths in Rome. ► Baths of Titus AD 81 ► Baths of Domitian AD 95 ► Trajan's Baths AD 100 ► Baths of Caracalla AD 217 ► Thermae of Diocletian; capacity for 6,000 bathers

Thermae ► Some of the thermae were large enough to accommodate thousands of bathers ► Roman baths were built wherever the Romans made conquests. ► The imperial bathing establishment was repeated in its essential form throughout the Roman Empire. Trajan Bath House

The Roman Bath ► Communal bathing in public facilities was an essential part of Roman life. ► It formed part of the daily routine for all classes in Rome. ► Cicero: “the gong that announced the opening of the public baths each day was a sweeter sound, than the voices of the philosophers in their school”. ► Much of daily Roman life surrounded the thermae and a good proportion of a citizen's day would be spent there.

The Roman Bath ► Providing social and recreational activities was a basic responsibility for Roman rulers and the larger baths were owned by the state. ► They were frequently the pet projects of the Roman emperors, and, to ensure their popularity, and the emperor's notoriety, entrance fees were kept to the very minimum.

The Thermae ► The thermae were all- encompassing establishments acting as social, recreational, and cultural centres. ► The typical bath had a mosaic of uses and served as a community center, restaurant, fitness center, bar, and also as a performance center, where a juggler, a musician, or even a philosopher might entertain. ► The most likely time you would have visited is in the afternoon, as the Roman workday for most ended by noon.

Daily Routine ► The custom was to open the bathhouses to women during the early part of the day and reserve it for men from 2:00 pm until closing time (usually sundown). ► Republican bathhouses often had separate bathing facilities for women and men. Mixed bathing is first recorded in the 1st century AD, but was condemned by respectable citizens and prohibited by the emperors Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius. Mixed bathing is first recorded in the 1st century AD, but was condemned by respectable citizens and prohibited by the emperors Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius. Women who were concerned about their respectability did not frequent the baths when the men were there, and the baths were an excellent place for prostitutes to promote their trade. Women who were concerned about their respectability did not frequent the baths when the men were there, and the baths were an excellent place for prostitutes to promote their trade.

The Water Supply ► By the 3rd century A.D. the Romans had built many baths and had acquired great skill in designing functional, fully integrated complexes. ► The water supply and drainage system, required careful planning to ensure an adequate flow to and from the numerous hot and cold basins. It is estimated that the baths used 15-20,000 cubic meters of water per day. It is estimated that the baths used 15-20,000 cubic meters of water per day. The baths were fed by a branch of the Aqua Marcia aqueduct, which brought pure water to Rome from springs in the hills near Subiaco, over 90 km away. The baths were fed by a branch of the Aqua Marcia aqueduct, which brought pure water to Rome from springs in the hills near Subiaco, over 90 km away.

The Distribution System ► From here it went by gravity flow through pipes underneath the gardens to the main building. ► Inside the main building a complicated distribution system carried the water directly to the cold pools or to boilers over wood fires where it was heated for the warm and hot baths. ► The water flowed into a huge cistern, divided into 18 separate chambers for easy maintenance and with a total capacity of 10,000 cu. m.

The Distribution System ► Outlets from each basin and in the floor of each room led to the drains, which ran below the level of the distribution pipes and took the waste water to the municipal drain in the valley. ► Both distribution and drainage pipes were housed in tunnels providing easy access for inspection and maintenance. Bath of Caracalla, Caldarium with floor tiles removed.

Baths of Caracalla ► One of the most elegant and massive Roman baths ever built. ► As late as the fifth century A.D., over 200 years after it was built, it still was ranked as one of Rome's seven wonders. Caracalla opera

The Baths of Caracalla ► The Baths of Caracalla covered 27 acres and could accommodate 1,600 people at a time. ► All would come: infants and elderly, men and women, healthy and ill, freemen and slaves, all of whom often bathed naked and together. ► If you were there at the right time, you might even share a bath with the emperor himself. Caracalla palastra

Apodyterium ► You enter the changing room. ► It had cubicles or shelves where you could tuck away your clothing and other belongings while you bathed. ► Leaving belongings behind unprotected was a risk, of course, for one of the most common visitors to the Roman baths apparently was thieves. ► Privately owned slaves, or one hired at the baths, called a capsarius, would watch your belongings while you enjoyed the pleasures of the baths.

Tepidarium ► Soap was a rare luxury for the rich only so this was done instead of using soap. ► The place where "strigiling" often took place. ► In this room the Romans would rub oils into their bodies. ► They would use a scraper called a strigil to scrape it off. ► These were curved metal tools to wipe oil, sweat and dirt. ► This might have been done by your own slave, if you had one, or by one who worked at the baths, if you could afford one.

Laconicum ► A very hot and dry room like a sauna.

Caldaraium ► The hottest room of all projected beyond the line of the building to take full advantage of the sun's rays. ► Hollow terracotta tubes ran inside the walls to provide insulation and channel hot air. ► A very hot and steamy room, like a modern Turkish bath. ► The floors of these rooms where heated by the Hypocaust. ► There were baths of hot water sunk into the floor. Caldaraium Pompeii

Caldarium ► At the Baths of Caracalla, the room was 115 feet wide and crowned with a concrete dome. ► The hot water and steamy air were designed to open your pores, and water and air temperatures may have risen well above 100 ºF, with 100% humidity. ► At the Baths of Caracalla, the caldarium consisted of a large hall that contained a large pool a little over three feet deep. ► If you had slaves attending you, they might use a pouring dish called a patara to refresh you with cool water.

Hypocaust ► The system used for heating the building and the pools. ► The floor was raised off the ground by pillars and spaces were left inside the walls so that hot air from the furnace could circulate through these open areas. ► The furnace heated the air drawn underneath the floor of the caldarium to heat its tiles. ► Hot air then rose up through hollowed-out bricks that lined the walls before exiting through chimneys. ► Rooms requiring the most heat were placed closest to the furnace, whose heat could be increased by adding more wood.

Hypocaust ► The warm air flows through wall ducts into the rooms at the baths and quickly heats them. ► In some baths the floors would be so hot that the bathers would have to wear wooden sandals or clogs to stop their feet from being burnt. ► The fires in the basement where stocked by slaves of the baths. ► Large numbers of people were, offered an enclosed place that was always warm. At a time when people had no source of heat at home, the baths were a place to keep warm.

Frigidarium ► Now it's time to close all the skin pores that have been opened. You can do this by plunging into the frigidarium's cold waters. ► The dip is meant to refresh and is often the final bath.

Toilets / Latrines ► Some privacy was provided by the Roman's loose togas, since they were hiked up rather than pulled down. ► Bathhouses had large public latrines, often with marble seats over channels whose continuous flow of water constituted the first “flush toilets.” ► A shallow water channel in front of the seats was furnished with sponges attached to sticks for patrons to wipe themselves. Romans were far less shy about bodily functions than we are. Romans were far less shy about bodily functions than we are. Acts we consider private— bathing and going to the toilet— were done by the Romans in public and without shame. Acts we consider private— bathing and going to the toilet— were done by the Romans in public and without shame.

The Roman Bath ► The philosopher Seneca complained that baths were noisy, but attractive places. ► Many ancient writers comment on the beauty and luxury of the bathhouses, with their well-lighted, airy rooms with high vaulted ceilings, lovely mosaics, paintings, colored marble panels, and silver faucets and fittings. ► After their baths, patrons could stroll in the gardens, visit the library, watch performances of jugglers or acrobats, listen to a literary recital, or buy a snack from the many food vendors.

Thermae – The Food Court ► The place to pick up a fast snack. Good food from vendors (L) and the amphora fridge for cold drinks (R).

Art ► The Baths were often adorned with dozens of brightly painted, often gilded statues perched in wall niches. ► Floors, walls, and columns were carved from a rainbow assortment of colored marble imported from the far corners of the Empire. ► Paint and brightly colored stucco adorned bare stone and walls. ► Roofs and floors covered with glass mosaics glittered in the sunlight that passed through holes in domed chambers.

FINI