Roman Bath

Question 1

Bathing

Answer 1

• Starts in 3rd c BCE
• Grows enormously in popularity
• Cities have multiple bath buildings
• Social experience
• Inexpensive

Question 2

baths: defining features

Answer 2

• Communal (social experience)
• Sequence of rooms (different
  heat levels, go warm to cold)
• Shared pools
• Nude

Question 3

Roman baths: Places of luxury and relaxation

Answer 3

• Balnea: smaller baths
• Thermae: large, grand, public baths
• Decoration: statues, marble, mosaics
• “Affordable luxury”

Question 4

Hypocausts

Answer 4

• Hot air circulates under raised floors
• Floors held up on stacks of tiles
• Afternoon is most popular time to bathe
• “Bathe well” Mosaic warning bathers to put on slippers
  because the floor is hot
  (Timgad, Algeria)