Where the green dot is Caracalla's relative location in the Roman Empire.
A map of Caracalla, showing the rooms and dimensions.
The Caracalla bath is located in Rome, Italy. And had all the same parts of other baths. It had the toilets, which was done with out shame because Romans are saucy like that, and other appropriate rooms with the heating and cooling system we have come to know and expect from the Romans.
No, seriously, the Romans were a different breed..... as is demonstrated by the Romans who get too close for our Western comfort...:
No, seriously, the Romans were a different breed..... as is demonstrated by the Romans who get too close for our Western comfort...:
The purpose of the bath was to entertain the population and keep them docile by providing entertainment. Not only that, but it was later said to have held 'conferences' where politicians would seek favor of the audience.
The main different site was that this bath included a natatio- or a swimming pool type of shindig. Being roofless, the Roman architects used mirrors made of bronze to reflect the light and heat of the sun into the pool; both heating the pool to a pleasant temperature and allowing sunbathing.
The main different site was that this bath included a natatio- or a swimming pool type of shindig. Being roofless, the Roman architects used mirrors made of bronze to reflect the light and heat of the sun into the pool; both heating the pool to a pleasant temperature and allowing sunbathing.
Bath of Caracalla
The main thing that was interesting about this bath was that it was free. Most other baths charged an entry fee, though relatively small as long as you were a Roman citizen. Roman citizenship, though, was hard to come by, since you had to be a male, and surprise-surprise, free. That crossed out many people, such as the slaves, women, and foreigners. So the fact that this bath house was free was sure to suck in a large crowd.
Like the rest of the baths, it had all the main components. It had an entrance, in which the patrons would remove their clothing and have slaves or servants look after their garments. It would be a boring but relaxing day for a slave, sitting and doing nothing at all.
Like the rest of the baths, it had all the main components. It had an entrance, in which the patrons would remove their clothing and have slaves or servants look after their garments. It would be a boring but relaxing day for a slave, sitting and doing nothing at all.
Modesty? It's not in the Roman dictionary. They stripped and walked.
Like the other baths, there was a palaestra, where exercise would take place, just before entering the baths. It was discouraged of women to intermix with males, so usually only men would be seen here. Boxing, wrestling, throwing javelins or disks or balls and such would be done here.
This is from a Pompeian bath.
The caldarium was a hot and steamy room, closest to the hot springs and heated by a hypocaust and under-ground heating. We've previously learned that it was so hot that sandals had to be worn to keep from scorching the bottom's of you feet. This room would usually be visited first, where it would open up the pores and allow the oil that was applied to have a 'deep clean' feeling when applied to the skin.
The elevated floor allowed for warm air to flow through and heat the floor and walls, and partially the water.
The tepidarium was a warm, pleasant temperature. usually it was entered before going into the frigidarium to avoid violent shocks between temperatures. This was probably the most used section, considering how it was just the right temperature and had steps on the sides of the bath to sit on.
The tepidarium from Herculean. Looks... inviting...
There was also frigidarium- cool and offering a plunge bath, patrons would jump into it before moving on to other rooms. It provided a refreshing wake up call- relieving them of the patrons of the patrons of the heat induced drowsiness that no doubt had plagued them. It also served to help close the pores, helping with their complexion and healthiness of their skin
The frigidarium from the Roman baths at Bath.