Bathhouses:
Bathhouses as a starting point were used for hygiene like
showers and relaxation like a spa as known these days but
at an integral part of ancient Roman civilization,
they had a significance part in the Roman society...
Let us start talking about the history of the bathhouses
first:” The origins of Roman bathhouses can be traced
back to the influence of ancient Greece, where bathing
was a common daily activity and a part of their
gymnasium complexes. The Greeks believed that certain
natural springs or pools had healing properties and were
blessed by the gods. They also developed primitive steam
baths and used small bathtubs, washbasins, and foot
baths for personal cleanliness.” so as understood it was
originated from Greece as we learned for our courses that
at the time romans took a lot of stuff from Greece this was
one of them...
After adopting this idea, they started surpassing them in
the size and variety of their baths as an example:” They
built public baths (Balnea) and larger state-owned baths
(thermae) throughout their empire, from Britain to Egypt.
They also constructed private baths in their villas and
military camps. Some of the most famous examples of
Roman bathhouses are the Baths of Caracalla, the Baths
of Diocletian, and the Baths of Trajan in Rome.”
Baths of Caracalla
The Baths of Caracalla was Rome’s second largest public bath.
Now all that is left is the brick walls and the large collapsed
vaults. But when this bathhouse was active, it was covered with
marble and had artwork.
The bathhouse was built around 216 AD and at the time, it was
the largest public bath in Rome.
You can see the Baths of Caracalla if you buy a ticket.
the Baths of Diocletian
The Baths of Diocletian was the largest Roman bathhouse in
Rome. The bathhouse was made in 306 AD and was built like
the Baths of Caracalla. The bathhouse was covered in marble
and there were sculptures and mosaics.
The bathhouse is now part of the National Museum of Rome,
where you will need to buy a ticket to visit.
the Baths of Trajan in Rome
The Baths of Trajan were first opened around 109 AD. Based on
drawings from the Renaissance period, the bathhouse was
marble and was the first major bath complex.
Today there is not much left of Baths of Trajan besides a wall
with a cement roof and niches for statuary.
Baths of Nero
At this bathhouse, there is not a lot remaining. There are only
two columns to see. There were once four, but two of the
columns were used when the Pantheon was restored.
The bathhouse was the second public bathing in Rome and was
originally built by Emperor Nero in 62 AD. Later in 227 ADS, it
was rebuilt by emperor Severus Alexander.
Baths of Neptune
The Baths of Neptune was built in 139 ADS by Adrian and
Antoninus Pio. Today you can see the well-preserved mosaics
remaining on the floor.
These bathhouses were open for everyone regardless their
gender class or status and he entrance fee was extremely
low or sometimes free on public holidays
“The bathhouses offered a range of facilities and services,
such as:
Apodyterium: a changing room where bathers could store their
clothes and valuables in cubicles or lockers.
- Palaestra: an exercise room where bathers could engage in
physical activities such as wrestling, boxing, or ball games.
- Natatio: an open-air swimming pool for cooling off or
swimming laps.
- Laconica and sudatoria: superheated dry and wet sweating-
rooms for detoxifying and cleansing the skin.
- Calidarium: a hot room with a hot-water pool and a separate
basin on a stand (labrum) for washing.
- Tepidarium: a warm room with a tepid pool for relaxing and
preparing for the cold plunge.
- Frigidarium: a cool room with a cold bath, often monumental
in size and domed. It was the heart of the bath complex and
the final stage of bathing.
- Massage and health treatments: rooms where bathers could
receive massages, oiling, scraping, hair removal, manicures,
pedicures, or medical care.
- Additional facilities: such as cold-water plunge pools, private
baths, toilets, libraries, lecture halls, fountains, and outdoor
gardens.”
Roman bathhouses were used not only for bathing, but
they were also used for socializing, meeting new people,
entertaining themselves, watch performances, play
games...etc.
Bathing was also seen to express one's identity as a
Roman citizen and to enjoy the benefits of civilization.
“Roman bathhouses were among the most impressive
architectural aces of cleanliness, health, leisure, education, and
community that characterized Roman life. They also
demonstrated the power and wealth of Rome to its subjects
and rivals. Roman bathhouses were one of the many ways that
Rome shaped the world we live in today.”
As bathhouses were so important for life activities for the
romans it created a big architectural revolution for them
watch this video for further detailed explanation: Gan Jing
World
One of the most important clips in this video about this
evolution...
But another question comes to mind... is there any roman
bathhouses in Jordan?
The answer is yes...
1. Baths in Jerash
2. Baths in Amman
3. West baths in Jerash
Hammam al-Sarah:
is an Umayyad bathhouse (hammam) in Jordan, built in connection with the
complex of Qasr al-Hallabat, which stands some 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the
west. Along with examples in the other desert castles of Jordan, it is one of the
oldest surviving remains of a Muslim bathhouse.
On the eastern side of the cardo maximus lie the
earthquake-stricken remains of the Western Baths. Dating
from the 2nd century AD, the baths were once an
impressive complex of hot (Caldarium), warm (tepidarium)
and cold (frigidarium) baths. In Roman times, public
bathing fulfilled the role of a social club and attracted a
wide variety of people, who gathered to exchange news
and gossip as well as to enjoy music, lectures, and
performances.
The Western Baths represent one of the earliest examples
of a dome atop a square room.
4. And we also have the eastern baths at Jerash, which I
found a full Architectual information talking about it, and I
will quote some of its work:
Chapter II | The Eastern Baths at Gerasa / Jerash. Preliminary
Report on the 2016 Campaign (gerda-henkel-stiftung.de) (the
reference)
This bath had an amazing thermal use they did some amazing
research about it and made some reconstruction to expand it
which made them discover new things around it.
“In 1986, the construction of a new building at the site of the
“small eastern baths” resulted in the discovery of the enclosure
wall marking the northern limit of the Great Eastern Baths. A
large portal (4.16 m wide, in the meantime completely
vanished) gave northern access to the bathing area. Also, one
column base belonging to northern Interior portico of the
courtyard (palaestra?) was found at that time still in situ.”
The bathhouses became so important we even have
architectural standards shown in the Neufert book as shown:
Thank you...Aseel Dabain
