Bathhouses in Ancient Rome

Paper Summary:

The paper begins with an introduction then moves on to discussing the bathhouses of Pompeii, the Frigidarium, Caldarium and Tepidarium and their significance. Then the paper moves into the subject of the public baths and the associated extravagance, excess and theft. The paper also includes a discussion of Bath, England and concludes with the effects that Christianity had on the baths and the effects of the fall of Rome.

From the Paper:

""The gong that announced the opening of the public baths each day was a sweeter sound, than the voices of the philosophers in their school" (Roman Baths, par. 2). This was written by Cicero to describe just how important the baths were to the ancient Roman people. The Ancient Roman Empire was extremely vast; at its peak the Empire controlled much of Europe, along with Asia Minor and Northern Africa. They were extremely innovative people who built many structures, as well as infrastructure, some not surpassed until the mid twentieth century. Public toilets were installed to help keep the empire clean and sanitary while sewage systems were constructed to carry waste and water away from the cities (public health par. 4). Living in relative comfort, ease, and cleanliness was important to the citizens of Rome consequently; the Romans built a large system of public health works. The Romans had no concept of germs but they still tried their best to keep themselves clean. The Romans were also practical people and believed that the prevention of disease was just as, if not more important than, the cure of disease itself, an example of this are the swamplands in Rome (public health par. 1). The Romans found that environment plays an important role in health, when they observed that people who live nearer to swamps and marshes contract disease more often then those who live in grasslands or cities (public health par. 2). A result of this would be the draining of many swamps and the subsequent building of temples to the Gods in close proximity to the swamps in order to appease the Gods (public health par.3). The great public bathhouses of the Roman Empire were important social structures as well as a place to keep disease at bay."

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