Roman BathsRoman Baths

M.A. Anderson, M.A. Anderson, 20062006

Public Public BathsBaths

► Existed in early Egyptian palaces Existed in early Egyptian palaces ► Greeks: bathing rooms in palace of Knossos from 1700 Greeks: bathing rooms in palace of Knossos from 1700

BC. BC. ► The Romans developed bathing to high degree of The Romans developed bathing to high degree of

sophistication sophistication ► Roman baths were initially on a small scale: used simply Roman baths were initially on a small scale: used simply

for cleansing after physical training exercises. for cleansing after physical training exercises. ► BalneaBalnea: private baths or neighborhood baths. : private baths or neighborhood baths. ► Their popularity lead to Their popularity lead to ThermaeThermae: public baths. : public baths.

The Thermae: Public BathThe Thermae: Public Bath

► Excavations at Olympia, (Hellenistic era) show: Excavations at Olympia, (Hellenistic era) show: ► From modest, functional buildings, with a cold pool, hot From modest, functional buildings, with a cold pool, hot

slipper baths, and a steam bath, The thermae slipper baths, and a steam bath, The thermae developed into pleasure palaces. developed into pleasure palaces.

► Their role expanded from one of facilitating cleanliness Their role expanded from one of facilitating cleanliness to one of making life as pleasant as possible. to one of making life as pleasant as possible.

► The opulence of the Roman bath embodies the essence The opulence of the Roman bath embodies the essence of a culture that thrived on pleasure and leisure. of a culture that thrived on pleasure and leisure.

Roman Roman BathsBaths

► By the early 500’s By the early 500’s A.D., there were A.D., there were almost 900 baths in almost 900 baths in Rome. Rome.

► Baths of Titus AD 81 Baths of Titus AD 81 ► Baths of Domitian Baths of Domitian

AD 95 AD 95 ► Trajan's Baths AD Trajan's Baths AD

100100► Baths of Caracalla Baths of Caracalla

AD 217 AD 217 ► Thermae of Thermae of

Diocletian; capacity Diocletian; capacity for 6,000 bathersfor 6,000 bathers

ThermaThermaee

► Some of the thermae were large enough to Some of the thermae were large enough to accommodate thousands of bathersaccommodate thousands of bathers

► Roman baths were built wherever the Romans made Roman baths were built wherever the Romans made conquests.conquests.

► The imperial bathing establishment was repeated in The imperial bathing establishment was repeated in its essential form throughout the Roman Empire.its essential form throughout the Roman Empire.

Trajan Bath House

The Roman BathThe Roman Bath► Communal bathing in public Communal bathing in public

facilities was an essential part facilities was an essential part of Roman life.of Roman life.

► It formed part of the daily It formed part of the daily routine for all classes in routine for all classes in Rome.Rome.

► Cicero: “the gong that Cicero: “the gong that announced the opening of the announced the opening of the public baths each day was a public baths each day was a sweeter sound, than the sweeter sound, than the voices of the philosophers in voices of the philosophers in their school”.their school”.

► Much of daily Roman life Much of daily Roman life surrounded the thermae and surrounded the thermae and a good proportion of a a good proportion of a citizen's day would be spent citizen's day would be spent there.there.

The Roman BathThe Roman Bath

► Providing social and Providing social and recreational activities was recreational activities was a basic responsibility for a basic responsibility for Roman rulers and the Roman rulers and the larger baths were owned larger baths were owned by the state. by the state.

► They were frequently the They were frequently the pet projects of the Roman pet projects of the Roman emperors, and, to ensure emperors, and, to ensure their popularity, and the their popularity, and the emperor's notoriety, emperor's notoriety, entrance fees were kept entrance fees were kept to the very minimum.to the very minimum.

The The ThermaeThermae► The thermae were all-The thermae were all-

encompassing encompassing establishments acting as establishments acting as social, recreational, and social, recreational, and cultural centres. cultural centres.

► The typical bath had a The typical bath had a mosaic of uses and served mosaic of uses and served as a community center, as a community center, restaurant, fitness center, restaurant, fitness center, bar, and also as a bar, and also as a performance center, where performance center, where a juggler, a musician, or a juggler, a musician, or even a philosopher might even a philosopher might entertainentertain. .

► The most likely time you The most likely time you would have visited is in the would have visited is in the afternoon, as the Roman afternoon, as the Roman workday for most ended by workday for most ended by noon.noon.

Daily Daily RoutineRoutine► The custom was to The custom was to

open the bathhouses open the bathhouses to women during the to women during the early part of the day early part of the day and reserve it for men and reserve it for men from 2:00 pm until from 2:00 pm until closing time (usually closing time (usually sundown). sundown).

► Republican bathhouses Republican bathhouses often had separate often had separate bathing facilities for bathing facilities for women and men.women and men.

• Mixed bathing is first recorded in the 1st century Mixed bathing is first recorded in the 1st century AD, but was condemned by respectable citizens and AD, but was condemned by respectable citizens and prohibited by the emperors Hadrian and Marcus prohibited by the emperors Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius. Aurelius. • Women who were concerned about their Women who were concerned about their respectability did not frequent the baths when the respectability did not frequent the baths when the men were there, and the baths were an excellent men were there, and the baths were an excellent place for prostitutes to promote their trade. place for prostitutes to promote their trade.

The Water The Water SupplySupply► By the 3rd century A.D. By the 3rd century A.D.

the Romans had built the Romans had built many baths and had many baths and had acquired great skill in acquired great skill in designing functional, fully designing functional, fully integrated complexes.integrated complexes.

► The water supply and The water supply and drainage system, drainage system, required careful planning required careful planning to ensure an adequate to ensure an adequate flow to and from the flow to and from the numerous hot and cold numerous hot and cold basins.basins.

• It is estimated that the baths used 15-20,000 cubic It is estimated that the baths used 15-20,000 cubic meters of water per day. meters of water per day. • The baths were fed by a branch of the Aqua Marcia The baths were fed by a branch of the Aqua Marcia aqueduct, which brought pure water to Rome from aqueduct, which brought pure water to Rome from springs in the hills near Subiaco, over 90 km away.springs in the hills near Subiaco, over 90 km away.

The Distribution SystemThe Distribution System

► From here it went by gravity flow through pipes From here it went by gravity flow through pipes underneath the gardens to the main building. underneath the gardens to the main building.

► Inside the main building a complicated Inside the main building a complicated distribution system carried the water directly to distribution system carried the water directly to the cold pools or to boilers over wood fires where the cold pools or to boilers over wood fires where it was heated for the warm and hot baths. it was heated for the warm and hot baths.

► The water flowed The water flowed into a huge cistern, into a huge cistern, divided into 18 divided into 18 separate chambers for separate chambers for easy maintenance easy maintenance and with a total and with a total capacity of 10,000 cu. capacity of 10,000 cu. m.m.

The Distribution SystemThe Distribution System

► Outlets from each basin Outlets from each basin and in the floor of each and in the floor of each room led to the drains, room led to the drains, which ran below the which ran below the level of the distribution level of the distribution pipes and took the pipes and took the waste water to the waste water to the municipal drain in the municipal drain in the valley. valley.

► Both distribution and Both distribution and drainage pipes were drainage pipes were housed in tunnels housed in tunnels providing easy access providing easy access for inspection and for inspection and maintenance. maintenance.

Bath of Caracalla, Caldarium with floor tiles removed.

Baths of Baths of CaracallaCaracalla

► One of the most elegant One of the most elegant and massive Roman baths and massive Roman baths ever built. ever built.

► As late as the fifth century As late as the fifth century A.D., over 200 years after A.D., over 200 years after it was built, it still was it was built, it still was ranked as one of Rome's ranked as one of Rome's seven wonders. seven wonders.

Caracalla operaCaracalla opera

The Baths of The Baths of CaracallaCaracalla

► The Baths of Caracalla covered The Baths of Caracalla covered 27 acres and could 27 acres and could accommodate 1,600 people at accommodate 1,600 people at a time.a time.

► All would come: infants and All would come: infants and elderly, men and women, elderly, men and women, healthy and ill, freemen and healthy and ill, freemen and slaves, all of whom often slaves, all of whom often bathed naked and together.bathed naked and together.

► If you were there at the right If you were there at the right time, you might even share a time, you might even share a bath with the emperor himself.bath with the emperor himself. Caracalla

palastra

ApodyteriumApodyterium

► You enter the changing room.You enter the changing room.► It had cubicles or shelves where you could tuck It had cubicles or shelves where you could tuck

away your clothing and other belongings while you away your clothing and other belongings while you bathed.bathed.

► Leaving belongings behind unprotected was a risk, Leaving belongings behind unprotected was a risk, of course, for one of the most common visitors to of course, for one of the most common visitors to the Roman baths apparently was thieves. the Roman baths apparently was thieves.

► Privately owned slaves, or one hired at the baths, Privately owned slaves, or one hired at the baths, called a capsarius, would watch your belongings called a capsarius, would watch your belongings while you enjoyed the pleasures of the baths. while you enjoyed the pleasures of the baths.

TepidariumTepidarium► Soap was a rare luxury for the Soap was a rare luxury for the

rich only so this was done rich only so this was done instead of using soap. instead of using soap.

► The place where "strigiling" The place where "strigiling" often took place. often took place.

► In this room the Romans would In this room the Romans would rub oils into their bodies. rub oils into their bodies.

► They would use a scraper called They would use a scraper called a a strigil strigil to scrape it off. to scrape it off.

► These were curved metal tools These were curved metal tools to wipe oil, sweat and dirt. to wipe oil, sweat and dirt.

► This might have been done by This might have been done by your own slave, if you had one, your own slave, if you had one, or by one who worked at the or by one who worked at the baths, if you could afford one.baths, if you could afford one.

LaconicumLaconicum

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

CaldaraiumCaldaraium

► The hottest room of all The hottest room of all projected beyond the line of projected beyond the line of the building to take full the building to take full advantage of the sun's advantage of the sun's rays. rays.

► Hollow terracotta tubes ran Hollow terracotta tubes ran inside the walls to provide inside the walls to provide insulation and channel hot insulation and channel hot air. air.

► A very hot and steamy A very hot and steamy room, like a modern Turkish room, like a modern Turkish bath. bath.

► The floors of these rooms The floors of these rooms where heated by thewhere heated by the HypocaustHypocaust. .

► There were baths of hot There were baths of hot water sunk into the floor. water sunk into the floor.

Caldaraium Pompeii

CaldariumCaldarium► At the Baths of Caracalla, the At the Baths of Caracalla, the

room was 115 feet wide and room was 115 feet wide and crowned with a concrete crowned with a concrete dome. dome.

► The hot water and steamy air The hot water and steamy air were designed to open your were designed to open your pores, and water and air pores, and water and air temperatures may have risen temperatures may have risen well above 100well above 100ºFºF, with 100% , with 100% humidity. humidity.

► At the Baths of Caracalla, the At the Baths of Caracalla, the caldarium consisted of a large caldarium consisted of a large hall that contained a large hall that contained a large pool a little over three feet pool a little over three feet deep. deep.

► If you had slaves attending If you had slaves attending you, they might use a pouring you, they might use a pouring dish called a patara to refresh dish called a patara to refresh you with cool water. you with cool water.

HypocaustHypocaust► The system used for heating The system used for heating

the building and the pools. the building and the pools. ► The floor was raised off the The floor was raised off the

ground by pillars and spaces ground by pillars and spaces were left inside the walls so were left inside the walls so that hot air from the furnace that hot air from the furnace could circulate through could circulate through these open areas. these open areas.

► The furnace heated the air The furnace heated the air drawn underneath the floor drawn underneath the floor of the caldarium to heat its of the caldarium to heat its tiles.tiles.

► Hot air then rose up Hot air then rose up through hollowed-out bricks through hollowed-out bricks that lined the walls before that lined the walls before exiting through chimneys.exiting through chimneys.

► Rooms requiring the most Rooms requiring the most heat were placed closest to heat were placed closest to the furnace, whose heat the furnace, whose heat could be increased by could be increased by adding more wood.adding more wood.

HypocauHypocaustst

► The warm air flows through wall ducts into the rooms at the baths and The warm air flows through wall ducts into the rooms at the baths and quickly heats them. quickly heats them.

► In some baths the floors would be so hot that the bathers would have 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. 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.The fires in the basement where stocked by slaves of the baths.

► Large numbers Large numbers of people were, of people were, offered an offered an enclosed place enclosed place that was always that was always warm. At a time warm. At a time when people had when people had no source of heat no source of heat at home, the at home, the baths were a baths were a place to keep place to keep warm. warm.

FrigidariumFrigidarium

► Now it's time to Now it's time to close all the skin close all the skin pores that have pores that have been opened. You been opened. You can do this by can do this by plunging into the plunging into the frigidarium's cold frigidarium's cold waters. waters.

► The dip is meant The dip is meant to refresh and is to refresh and is often the final often the final bath.bath.

Toilets / Toilets / LatrinesLatrines

► Some privacy was provided by the Roman's loose Some privacy was provided by the Roman's loose togas, since they were hiked up rather than pulled togas, since they were hiked up rather than pulled down.down.

► Bathhouses had large public latrines, often with marble Bathhouses had large public latrines, often with marble seats over channels whose continuous flow of water seats over channels whose continuous flow of water constituted the first “flush toilets.” constituted the first “flush toilets.”

► A shallow water channel in front of the seats was A shallow water channel in front of the seats was furnished with sponges attached to sticks for patrons to furnished with sponges attached to sticks for patrons to wipe themselves.wipe themselves.

• Romans were far less shy Romans were far less shy about bodily functions than we about bodily functions than we are. are. • Acts we consider private—Acts we consider private—bathing and going to the toiletbathing and going to the toilet—were done by the Romans in —were done by the Romans in public and without shame.public and without shame.

The Roman BathThe Roman Bath

► The philosopher Seneca complained that baths were The philosopher Seneca complained that baths were noisy, but attractive places. noisy, but attractive places.

► Many ancient writers comment on the beauty and Many ancient writers comment on the beauty and luxury of the bathhouses, with their well-lighted, airy luxury of the bathhouses, with their well-lighted, airy rooms with high vaulted ceilings, lovely mosaics, rooms with high vaulted ceilings, lovely mosaics, paintings, colored marble panels, and silver faucets and paintings, colored marble panels, and silver faucets and fittings. fittings.

► After their baths, After their baths, patrons could stroll patrons could stroll in the gardens, in the gardens, visit the library, visit the library, watch watch performances of performances of jugglers or jugglers or acrobats, listen to acrobats, listen to a literary recital, or a literary recital, or buy a snack from buy a snack from the many food the many food vendors.vendors.

Thermae – The Food CourtThermae – The Food Court

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

ArtArt► The Baths were often adorned with dozens of The Baths were often adorned with dozens of

brightly painted, often gilded statues perched in brightly painted, often gilded statues perched in wall niches. wall niches.

► Floors, walls, and columns were carved from a Floors, walls, and columns were carved from a rainbow assortment of colored marble imported from rainbow assortment of colored marble imported from the far corners of the Empire. the far corners of the Empire.

► Paint and brightly colored stucco adorned bare stone Paint and brightly colored stucco adorned bare stone and walls. and walls.

► Roofs and floors covered with glass mosaics glittered Roofs and floors covered with glass mosaics glittered in the sunlight that passed through holes in domed in the sunlight that passed through holes in domed chambers.chambers.

FINIFINI