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How did Romans ID<e to relax?

Learn about bathing, Roman style

he Romans were expert builders; they Glass dome Victorian superstructure
knew that in order to make their cities The glass dome is situated over the This includes colonnades and statuary. Much of
T thrive they must provide an excellent modern pump room. Here, people the stone has been eroded; the facings require
water system. Therefore great importance was can still drink the healing waters. careful conservation and ventilation.
placed on drainage, public fountains and baths.
Roman baths were built not only in cities, but The museum
The Roman Baths Museum. Here, visitors can see
also in houses and even in forts. The baths were objects that had been thrown into the spring. These
heated in one of two ways. The favoured method include offerings to the deities Sulis and Minerva.
was natural hot springs, with thermae (bath
houses) built around them. When the baths Terrace
The statues, which can be
were supplied with water from rivers or seen on the terrace, are dated
aqueducts, however, it was heated by a fire to the late 19th Century -
they depict Roman governors
before it passed through pipes to the bathing
and emperors.
area. Both men and women could use the baths,
but the females had to be separated from the
males and used an adjoining complex that
housed a smaller thermae. The bathing fees
for women were much steeper than those
required of men.
The bath building was entered through a
passage that led into the room lined with seats
and clothes pegs. This room, also known as the
'apodyterium', is where people undressed.
Sometimes the visitors were accompanied by
servants and slaves who helped them disrobe.
The apodyterium was sometimes watched by
an attendant. It's unlikely the Romans bathed
naked; they were more likely to have worn a
light covering known as the 'subligaculum' and
The great bath
sandals with thick soles to protect their feet Small pool This 1.6m (5.25ft) deep pool was fed with
from the heated floors. The waters are still warm and hot water straight from a Sacred Spnng. The
are often covered by a mist.
Visitors to a Roman bath could enjoy three Romans using this pool named the town
They are rich in sodium, calcium,
types of bath: the hot pool was known as the chloride and sulphate ions. Aquae Sulis, the Roman name for Bath.
'caldarium', the 'tepidarium' was kept a tan
intermediate temperature and the 'frigidarium'
was used as a cold plunge pool. The building also
had an atrium, which was employed as an The furnace
exercise yard. The bath houses were equipped The furnace was
with large public latrines which consisted of constantly fed
with wood. The
marble seats placed over open channels, through rooms requiring
which there was a constant flow of water. most heat were
Roman baths were frequented by the upper situated close to
the fire.
classes, who wished to network and conduct
business affairs. While they bathed they were
There were
offered refreshments, and at an extra price the three types of
visitors could take massages. The treatments pool, varying in
The hypocaust temperature.
were undertaken by slaves known as 'al iptae'.
Pillars or plinths created large They included
The baths were also used for cultural purposes spaces that were employed hot, tepid and
-they had libraries, eating areas and rooms for for the circulation of heat. cold water.
public speaking.
The baths were also used for cultural purposes - they had
libraries, eating areas and rooms for public speaking

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