Roman Bathhouses

Susan AylardRoman City Dig

March 29 – April 17, 2010

Origin of Roman Baths

Greeks: 5th century BC

Romans: 3rd century BC

Private bath suites filled & emptied by hand

Bal(i)neum (sing.)

Bal(i)neae (pl.)

Hypocaust Heating

Invented in 1st century BC

Led to large public and private bathhouses (thermae)

Bathing became communal and a social event

Aqueducts

Often the reason for building aqueducts

Most planned towns had at least one public bath

Usually situated in the town center

Typical Features

Changing room (apodyterium)

Warm room; no bath (tepdiarium)

Hot room; hot plunge bath (caldarium)

Cold room; cold plunge bath (frigidarium)

Public toilet

Additional Amenities

Hot dry room (laconicum)

Hot room to induce sweating (sudatorium)

Outdoor swimming pool (natatio)

Gymnasium for athletic training

Covered area for sport (palaestra)

Libraries

Gardens

Restaurant

Private rooms

Typical Layout

Bath, England

Bath, England

Sacred spring make it unique

46°C

1,170,000 litres (240,000 gallons) per day

References

Adkins, Lesley, and Roy Adkins. Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome. New York [u.a.]: Oxford Univ., 1998.

Rodgers, Nigel, and Hazel Dodge. Roman Empire. London: Hermews House, 2006.

www.romanbaths.co.uk

Images from Google