Roman Baths - History

History
of Ancient Roman Baths

PAGE 3

First enter the changing rooms, apodyterium - Did you bring a slave along to hold your towel and oils etc. You have brought your own strigils, unguentum and linteum. Your slave might take care of these for you as well as see to the safety of your clothing which was placed in either wooden chests (lockers) or small cubby holes in the wall. It was also possible to hire an attendant for a small fee. It was not wise to leave your belongings unattended.

There was no set order in using the baths...very un roman it seems. They so liked order and regulation. We might go first to the tepidarium. This is a warm room with small bathing pool; A good soak here will open the pores, a proper time to visit the masseur who will give a good rub down, pouring oils on you and then scraping them off, together with a layer of dead skin. The water he throws over you to rinse off any oils he did not get with the strigil is a shock. A visit to the caldarium is a good idea but it might be advisable to first visit the tepidarium again to ease the shock. When we enter the caldarium, we find not only the tub but also the room much warmer. The hypocaust begins here and thus the floor feels warm to the touch. Better wear sandals on this floor. The bath feels great...the cares of the day gone but it is best not to linger here too long. We need to keep sharp to discuss business affairs so even if the conversation gets interesting it is better to continue it in the frigidarium... much as the nordic people today visit the snow banks after a hot sauna. If you want to keep those pores opening and closing, we can also visit the laconicum or sudatoria. This sauna like room is very hot and very dry and was generally used by invalids.

We might return to the tepidarium after the laconicum. or perhaps run over to the palaestra for a few quick games now and maybe finish off with a good swim in the natatio but not before washing feet in a shallow pool. Here we might meet a colleague and retire to the library , the garden, or a private room to discuss purchasing shares in a grain deal. If it goes well we can celebrate with a glass of wine and a hot cake at a thermopolium prior to returning home. Ah life is good! Can you imagine that Seneca wishing for a return to those days when men smelled of farm and army life.

Bene lave..."Have a good bath!" was a familiar greeting.

Joan Jahnige
KET Latin II, III
1998

Famous Baths to visit...

Caracalla...setting for operas, click to see a larger image.