By the time the Roman era began, the concept wasn’t exactly new anymore. But the city of Bath became a staple for bathing culture in Rome during its penultimate period. It should come as no surprise that Bath became the city of bathing with a wide swath of public baths that featured sophisticated water systems and even hydrothermal springs.
In most cases, the Roman bathhouses were located in the center of a town or city. This is because they were used for relaxation, exercise, and even socializing. These buildings weren’t simple huts, either. They were complex buildings, especially for the time. And more often than not, they were the first things built in that town!
These bathhouses would often contain a number of rooms with varying temperatures ranging from cold to hot. Not only that, they had special areas like restrooms, changing rooms, rooms for exercising, and even areas for drinking wine and eating.
Heating was possible in these bathhouses through hollow spaces underneath of the flooring where hot air could travel and the water was provided through pipes, drains, and sewers.
Simply put, the Roman bathhouse was one of the most modern advancements when it came to bathing, socializing, and caring for one’s body. The basic concept is what inspired modern irrigation and buildings, giving us the amenities that we are most familiar with today.
A Brief History of Bathing | Nicholas C. Rossis
The baths, both public and private, play a big part in my current work in progress, Pompeii Fire. Please click through to learn more about the history of bathing; the article is fascinating.
