Roman public baths were an important social institution where people would go to bathe, exercise, and socialize. There were separate facilities for men and women. Small baths were called balnea while larger more luxurious ones were known as thermae. The Romans improved upon Greek baths by adding underfloor heating systems called hypocausts to warm the rooms. Bathers would progress through different temperature rooms, starting with warm tepidarium, then hot caldarium, and finishing with a cold plunge in the frigidarium. Seneca complained the nearby baths were very noisy with people exercising and getting massages.

1. Roman BathsChapter 7

2. Public baths?All Romans enjoyed going to the public baths; and yes, they went together.There were separate rooms or different times for men and women to attend.The Romans would go there to exercise, socialize, relax, groom, and bathe.

4. Balnea and ThermaeSmall bath houses made of wood were called balnea. Larger, more luxurious thermae were made of stone.There were private baths operated for profit. Most Romans, even the rich went to the public baths, though. The entrance was cheap...one quadrans, the smallest Roman coin.

5. HypocaustThe Greeks had baths, but the Romans added HEAT to their baths. (Can you see why they were called thermae?)The floors were raised on piles of bricks. There was a furnace where slaves would tend a fire and the heat would warm the floors; and, therefore, the water. The warmest room was next to the furnace.

7. PalestraAfter paying admission, you then went to the palestra. This was the exercise yard where you might throw the discus or javelin, or maybe you would wrestle or box.

8. ApodyteriumNext you would go to the apodyterium and have your slave (or tip the attendant) to watch your clothes, keeping them safe from the thieves.The apodyterium was the changing or locker room. It had ‘cubbies’ cut out in the wall to store your belongings.

9. TepidariumNext you would go to the tepidariumto get yourself used to the heat.The tepidarium was a warm room with warmed water.

11. CalidariumNext is the caldarium which was hot enough for you to sweat the dirt out of your pores. In this room you would have a slave rub you with oil, then scrape the oil and the dirt off with a strigil. The strigil was made out of metal and was curved on one end to facilitate the scraping.Caldarium: A hot room with hot water.

12. Calidarium in Pompeii

13. FrigidariumLast, you would finish at the frigidarium by taking a plunge in the cold water to close your pores again.Frigidarium: A cold room where you might be able to plunge into a pool with unheated water.

14. Frigidarium

15. After the bath…You might then take a relaxing stroll in the gardens, hear some music or poetry or you might engage in philosophy.

16. Seneca says…The Roman writer Seneca apparently lived near a bath complex and complained about how noisy it was. He could hear the grunts of the people exercising. He could also hear the slaps of the masseur, both with an opened and closed fist. Additionally, he heard the splashes made from people ‘jumping in’ or the ruckus of a fighter or thief being arrested. He could hear the screams of the guy who advertised his services for hair removal, and who was only quiet when he had a customer screaming instead. He could also hear the cries of the various food vendors selling cakes, sausages and other foods.