Baths played a major part in the Roman’s lives because they were used as a place for hygiene, relaxation, business meetings, and exercise activities. The Roman baths were so involved in people’s daily lives that they were seen as a symbol for Rome. The Romans thought that because of their baths, it proved that they were cleaner, which meant that they were superior to other countries. Because many people were not wealthy enough to afford their own private baths, there were numerous public baths in Roman towns. The remains of the baths found by archaeologists have given way to the mechanics of their heating system. (British Museum) The Romans used scorching water in heated furnaces under the raised floors of the baths. The resulting steam was guided through chambers located under the floors and in the walls. This system worked so well that if the floors were not made as thick, they would be too hot to walk on. (PBS)
Many Romans would finish work in the mid-afternoon and then head for the baths. There were special times reserved for both men and women so that they would bathe separately. There were also different rooms that you visited when going to the public baths. For example, the first room, Apodyterium, or the dressing room, was where they undressed and left their clothes in a locker. Next, they would go to the Palaestra, which is where they would exercise and where they would have their bodies oiled before bathing. The subsequent room, the Frigidarium, was a chilled room with a cold bath. To warm up, the Romans would then head to the Tepidarium, or the warm room. Following the Tepidarium was the Caldarium which was a hot room filled with steam. (Baths)This room also had hot baths and fountains for cleaning. The last room, the Laconicum, was used only if they wanted extreme dry heat. (Corbishley. 40) After the Romans had gone to all of the rooms, they had the oil rubbed off their bodies. This was most often performed by servants using a tool called a strigil. The final step for the baths was going through all of the previous rooms and ending up in a room called the Apodyterium where they got dressed to go home. (PBS)
The interesting rituals associated with Roman baths will surely continue to intrigue generations to come!
Baths played a major part in the Roman’s lives because they were used as a place for hygiene, relaxation, business meetings, and exercise activities. The Roman baths were so involved in people’s daily lives that they were seen as a symbol for Rome. The Romans thought that because of their baths, it proved that they were cleaner, which meant that they were superior to other countries. Because many people were not wealthy enough to afford their own private baths, there were numerous public baths in Roman towns. The remains of the baths found by archaeologists have given way to the mechanics of their heating system. (British Museum) The Romans used scorching water in heated furnaces under the raised floors of the baths. The resulting steam was guided through chambers located under the floors and in the walls. This system worked so well that if the floors were not made as thick, they would be too hot to walk on. (PBS)
Many Romans would finish work in the mid-afternoon and then head for the baths. There were special times reserved for both men and women so that they would bathe separately. There were also different rooms that you visited when going to the public baths. For example, the first room, Apodyterium, or the dressing room, was where they undressed and left their clothes in a locker. Next, they would go to the Palaestra, which is where they would exercise and where they would have their bodies oiled before bathing. The subsequent room, the Frigidarium, was a chilled room with a cold bath. To warm up, the Romans would then head to the Tepidarium, or the warm room. Following the Tepidarium was the Caldarium which was a hot room filled with steam. (Baths)This room also had hot baths and fountains for cleaning. The last room, the Laconicum, was used only if they wanted extreme dry heat. (Corbishley. 40) After the Romans had gone to all of the rooms, they had the oil rubbed off their bodies. This was most often performed by servants using a tool called a strigil. The final step for the baths was going through all of the previous rooms and ending up in a room called the Apodyterium where they got dressed to go home. (PBS)
The interesting rituals associated with Roman baths will surely continue to intrigue generations to come!
Bib liography
Corbishley, Mike. Ancient Rome. New York: Equinox (Oxford) Ltd, 1989.
Trustees of the British Museum. 3 Dec. 2008
<http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/r/roman_baths_a nd_bathing.aspx>
2006. Devillier Donegan Enterprises. 3 Dec. 2008
<http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/baths.html>
3 Dec. 2008
<http://www.crystalinks.com/bathouse.jpg>
Mar. 2001. Adam Bartlett. 3 Dec. 2008