Baths

• Most cities had at least one bath complex. Pompeii itself had three bath complexes.
• Baths were not only used for hygiene, but for socializing and entertainment. Romans would stay for several hours exercising, meeting friends, reading, etc.
• Baths were for everyone, even slaves. Fees were sometimes charged--small enough to accommodate everyone. Baths would be open to women in the morning and men in the afternoon, or women would have a separate complex.
• Bath Steps: change in the apodyterium --> exercise in the palaestra --> visit hot room (caldarium) where you cleanse with oil and strigil --> visit warm room (tepidarium) --> visit cold room (frigidarium)
• The apodyterium was the changing room, where there were many shelves to place clothing in. Slaves would guard the clothing against thieves.
• The palaestra was the exercise area, where athletes wrestled, ran, lifted weights, and played ball games.
• The caldarium was the hot room, as it was close to the furnaces. It included a hot bath and a basin of cool water to wash your face. The room was in a tunnel shape to allow steam to roll off the sides rather than straight down towards the bather
• The tepidarium was the warm room, or the main room of the bathing process. It was a place for relaxation and usually incredibly decorated
• The frigidarium was the coldest room, furthest away from the furnaces. It included a plunge bath or swimming pool. People would often not spend much time here.
• Olive oil was rubbed on skin to separate it with the dirt. Romans then used a strigil to scrape the oil and dirt off
• Bath water was brought in using aqueducts.
• Furnaces were used to heat the bath.