Marble Wall In Ancient Roman Baths

Elaborately decorated with mosaics and marble statues and wall paintings the larger centres like the caracalla baths in rome are known to have had libraries in caracalla s case two separate libraries and lecture halls for the more academic.

Marble wall in ancient roman baths.

Terme di caracalla in rome italy were the city s second largest roman public baths or thermae likely built between ad 212 or 211 and 216 217 during the reigns of emperors septimius severus and caracalla. In daily life in ancient rome florence dupont writes that it was for reasons of ritual that the romans washed frequently. The map measuring ca. The romans also constructed baths in their colonies taking advantage of the natural hot springs occurring in europe to construct baths at aix and vichy in france bath and buxton in england aachen and wiesbaden in germany baden in austria and aquincum in hungary among other locations these baths became centers for recreational and social activities in roman communities.

It was located on an interior wall of the temple of peace built by emperor vespasian in 71 c e. The baths of caracalla italian. 18 10 x 13 meters or ca. They were in operation until the 530s and then fell into disuse and ruin.

Most of the roman population lived in overcrowded apartment buildings without water or sanitary facilities so the baths were the solution of the problem. Baths of caracalla contain huge columns mosaics of glass and marble on the walls painted stuccos and different statues with impressive sizes. 235 ce huge walls and arches still stand and attest to the imposing dimensions of the complex which used some 6 9 million bricks and. Most roman cities had at least one if not many such buildings.

Thermae usually refers to the large imperial bath complexes while balneae were smaller scale facilities public or private that existed in great numbers throughout rome. The baths of caracalla in the southern area of rome are perhaps the best preserved of all roman baths and were second only in size to trajan s baths of rome c. They were also the most sumptuous and luxurious roman baths ever built. 60 x 43 feet was incised onto marble slabs that hung on a wall of a grand room aula in the templum pacis in rome.

In rome itself baths were taken daily. Each piece of wall is a 3d virtual replica of the. The baths were very elegant. Today only 1 186 pieces or 10 15 of this gargantuan city map exist.

Moreover they served as a place for socialization. Time and the need for marble as a building material gradually destroyed the plan. Under the reign of emperor septimus severus. A roman who visited the baths would enter the baths through the front porch whose roof was supported by marble pillars.

Throughout the countryside romans including women and enslaved people would wash every day and would have a thorough bath on every feast day if not more often. This enormous marble map depicting ancient rome detailed enough to show nearly every bathhouse and temple in the city was created around 211 c e.