pictured above: an artists impression of the Baths of Caracalla from above, the Baths as they are today
The Baths of Caracalla were the second largest thermae in Ancient Rome, built as political propaganda by Emperor Caracalla to get the public to like him more. Building began in 212 BCE and was finished around 217 BCE, and further additions were made later on by Heliogabalus and Alexander Serverus.
pictured above: an artists impression of the Baths of Caracalla
The Baths of Caracalla consisted of a vast range of facilities, from swimming pools, saunas, massage centres, areas for exercise and gymnastics, libraries, gardens and conference rooms. It was a huge establishment, with a perimeter of 402 metres by 330 metres, and was able to house up to 1600 bathers at one time.
DID YOU KNOW?
The modern word 'spa' comes from the Latin salus per aquam, which means 'health from water'.
When visiting the baths, you would first enter the apodyterium (a dressing room/locker room), undress, and store your things in a small locker. You would then proceed to the tepidarium, a large room that was kept warm, to slowly introduce your body to the beat. Then on to the caldarium, a sauna-like room with a plunge pool and a floor heated by fires and hot circulating air. These warm and hot rooms would unclog and open up your pores. Next was the frigidarium, a room with a cold plunge pool that then closed the pores. You could also take a dip in the outdoor natatio, an open-air, cold water swimming pool.
Within the establishment there were baths for both men and women, who would go there not only to wash, but to socialise, conduct business, relax, and exercise. What is interesting is that the baths were open to citizens of all social classes, not just those of noble standing. At the thermae, class barriers were broken down, and the poor and rich mingled and socialised freely and openly. It was a daily activity, almost a ritual, and the Romans prided themselves on the fact that they bathed on a day to day basis. The baths of Caracalla would have attracted hundreds of visitors each day, and as such, was an absolutely integral part of Roman society.
DID YOU KNOW?
The modern word 'spa' comes from the Latin salus per aquam, which means 'health from water'.
When visiting the baths, you would first enter the apodyterium (a dressing room/locker room), undress, and store your things in a small locker. You would then proceed to the tepidarium, a large room that was kept warm, to slowly introduce your body to the beat. Then on to the caldarium, a sauna-like room with a plunge pool and a floor heated by fires and hot circulating air. These warm and hot rooms would unclog and open up your pores. Next was the frigidarium, a room with a cold plunge pool that then closed the pores. You could also take a dip in the outdoor natatio, an open-air, cold water swimming pool.
Within the establishment there were baths for both men and women, who would go there not only to wash, but to socialise, conduct business, relax, and exercise. What is interesting is that the baths were open to citizens of all social classes, not just those of noble standing. At the thermae, class barriers were broken down, and the poor and rich mingled and socialised freely and openly. It was a daily activity, almost a ritual, and the Romans prided themselves on the fact that they bathed on a day to day basis. The baths of Caracalla would have attracted hundreds of visitors each day, and as such, was an absolutely integral part of Roman society.
Authors comment:
The Baths of Caracalla are an excellent example of what the Romans did in their day to day lives, and I think that it is extraordinarily interesting to learn about the variety of things that people would do their aside from bathe.