The Baths

In the times of Ancient Rome very few people had baths in their homes. Adults enjoyed going to the public bathhouse. Children were not allowed in. The bathhouse cost very little to get in, so people used them often. The men and the women both used the bathhouse, but at different times during the day. Each group had a scheduled time, although the women's scheduled time was shorter. The bathhouse was not only a place for washing, but a good place to meet friends or do business. Some people enjoyed going to the bath for exercises, walks through the gardens, or reading. The baths also had towels, slaves to wait on you, steam rooms, saunas, exercise rooms, and hair cutting salons.

The Romans didn't use soap. They cleaned themselves by covering their bodies with oil. Then they scraped the oil off with a special scraper called a strigil. Strigils were make from bone or metal. Next the Romans enjoyed several pools. Each of these pools had water heated to different temperatures. Bathers went from one bath to another.

Ancient Rome had as many as 900 public baths. Small baths held about 300 people. The largest bath held 1500 people. Bathhouses were built all over the Roman Empire. The most impressive ones were found in the city of Rome. They were decorated with marble and statues. Some contained gardens, courtyards, and gymnasiums. There were also shops, restaurants, galleries, and libraries. Some of the most splendid Roman bathhouses were built by the emperors Caracalla and Diocletian.

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Baths of Caracalla  Tepidarium with Aida scenery

Photo courtesy and ©1997  Leo Curran,  Maecenas: Images of Ancient Greece and Rome

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