Roman Bath

The Roman bathhouse, also known as thermae, was an important part of Roman culture and society. It served not only for body cleansing but also for social interaction and relaxation.


A Roman bathhouse usually consisted of different rooms and areas. The entrance area, also called the apodyterium, was the changing room where visitors took off their clothes and kept their valuables. From there you could enter the frigidarium, a cold bath where you could cool off.


From the frigidarium, a corridor led to the tepidarium, a lukewarm bath used for relaxation. Here, one could rest on heated benches and chat with other visitors.


Afterwards, people entered the caldarium, a hot bath that was often heated with a hypocaustic heater. Here they could clean themselves thoroughly and sweat.


After bathing, a massage often followed in the massage area, the unctorium. Here the bodies were rubbed with oils and massaged.


A visit to the Roman bathhouse was not only a cleansing ritual, but also a social activity. People met there to talk, discuss business and spend time together. It was a place of relaxation and recreation.


The Roman bathhouses were often magnificent buildings with elaborate architecture and mosaics. They were an expression of the wealth and culture of Roman society. Today, some well-preserved Roman bathhouses can still be visited, for example in Pompeii or Bath in England.