The baths, a symbol of well-being and sociality in the Roman world, assume a role of particular importance in Pompeii. As many as four public bath facilities have been found within the city: the Stabian Baths, the Forum Baths, the Central Baths and the Suburban Baths. Their presence, together with that of private bath facilities in the most luxurious houses, testifies to the importance that bathing and body care held in the daily lives of Pompeiians.
The Baths and Pompeian Society
The public baths, accessible to all citizens, were an important meeting and socializing point for people from all walks of life. In addition to hot (calidarium), lukewarm (tepidarium), and cold (frigidarium) baths, the baths offered a variety of services, including gyms, massage areas, and gardens. Attendance at these places was not limited to body care, but represented a time for recreation, meeting with friends, and discussing politics and business.
The Stabian Baths: the oldest
The Stabian Baths, located between Via dell'Abbondanza and Via di Stabia, are the oldest in Pompeii, dating back to the late 4th century BC. The facility, characterized by a typically Roman organization of spaces, included several areas designated for specific functions:
Apodyterium: the changing room, where attendants left their clothes before entering the baths.
Frigidarium: the cold bath tub, often decorated with mosaics and frescoes.
Tepidarium: the warm room, intended for preparing the body for the hot bath.
Calidarium: the hot bath tub, powered by a hypocaust heating system.
Other Public Baths
The Forum Baths, located between Via del Foro and Via di Nola, were smaller in size than the Stabian Baths, but just as busy. The Central Baths, built in later times, and the Suburban Baths, located just outside the walls, completed the picture of public bath facilities in Pompeii.
The impact of the 62 AD earthquake.
The earthquake of 62 AD, which caused severe damage to Pompeii, also had a significant impact on the baths. Several spa buildings suffered structural damage, which required restoration and consolidation work. In some cases, the renovations were an opportunity to make changes and improvements to the baths.
The baths: a window into daily life
Pompeii's baths, thanks to their exceptional state of preservation, offer valuable evidence of daily life in ancient Rome. Archaeological excavations have unearthed not only architectural structures, but also a variety of everyday objects, such as strigils, unguentaries, oil lamps and coins. These finds, together with the frescoes and mosaics that decorated the bath rooms, allow us to reconstruct the habits, tastes, and rituals of the spa-goers. We can imagine the hubbub of the people, the sound of the water flowing in the pools, the scent of the fragrant oils used for massages.
The Baths today: a must-see attraction
Today, the Baths of Pompeii are one of the most visited attractions at the archaeological site. Their grandeur, beauty and the fascinating history they encompass continue to fascinate visitors from all over the world. Walking through the ruins of these ancient facilities, it is possible to take a real plunge into the past and imagine the daily life of Pompeians, who found in the baths a place of well-being, sociability and recreation.
FAQ on the baths in Pompeii
How many baths were there in Pompeii?
Four public bath facilities have been found in Pompeii: the Stabian Baths, the Forum Baths, the Central Baths, and the Suburban Baths. Their presence, along with that of private bath facilities in the most luxurious homes, testifies to the importance of bathing and body care in the daily lives of Pompeiians.
Who could frequent the baths in Pompeii?
Public baths were accessible to everyone, men and women, rich and poor. They constituted an important meeting and socializing place for people from all walks of life.
What activities took place at the baths?
In addition to hot (calidarium), lukewarm (tepidarium) and cold (frigidarium) baths, the baths offered a variety of services, including:
Gyms
Massage areas
Gardens
Libraries
Attendance at these places was not limited to body care, but was a time for recreation, meeting with friends and discussing politics and business.
What do archaeological excavations tell us about the baths?
Pompeii's baths, thanks to their exceptional state of preservation, offer valuable evidence of daily life in ancient Rome. Archaeological excavations have unearthed not only architectural structures, but also a variety of everyday objects, such as strigils, ointments, oil lamps, and coins. These finds, together with the frescoes and mosaics that decorated the bath rooms, allow us to reconstruct the habits, tastes, and rituals of the spa-goers.
How did heating work in the baths?
In Pompeii, water came from the Serino aqueduct and was piped into large cisterns (castella aquae) located in the highest part of the city. A series of lead pipes (fistulae) or terracotta pipes carried water to the houses, public fountains and bath buildings. Essential to the functioning of the baths was the heating system. The caldarium, the hot bath tub, was fed by a hypocaust, an underfloor heating system.
Were the baths open after the earthquake of 62 AD?
The A.D. 62 earthquake caused severe damage to Pompeii, including several bath buildings. Some suffered structural damage, which required restoration and consolidation work. In some cases, the restoration work was an opportunity to make changes and improvements to the bath facility. Stratigraphic assays at the Castellum Aquae and in the Stabian Baths showed that part of the lead pipes had been removed before the eruption of 79 AD, evidently for replacement. So neither the Castellum nor the Baths were still in operation in 79 AD, even though restoration work on the buildings was fermenting.
What are the oldest baths in Pompeii?
The Stabian Baths, located between Via dell'Abbondanza and Via di Stabia, are the oldest in Pompeii, dating from the late 4th century BC. The facility, characterized by a typically Roman organization of spaces, included several areas designated for specific functions:
Apodyterium: the changing room, where attendants left their clothes before entering the baths.
Frigidarium: the cold bath tub, often decorated with mosaics and frescoes.
Tepidarium: the warm room, intended for preparing the body for the hot bath.
Calidarium: the pool for the hot bath, fed by a hypocaust heating system.
Can the baths be visited today?
Yes, the baths of Pompeii are one of the most visited attractions of the archaeological site today. Their grandeur, beauty, and the fascinating history they encompass continue to fascinate visitors from all over the world. Walking through the ruins of these ancient facilities, it is possible to take a real plunge into the past and imagine the daily life of Pompeians, who found in the baths a place of well-being, sociability and recreation.
Essential bibliography:
H. Eschebach, Die Stabianer Thermen in Pompeji, in Denkmaler Antiker Architekur 13, Berlin 1979
L. Eschebach, Die Forumsthermen in Pompeji, Regio VII, Insula 5, in Antike Welt, 22, 4, 1991
A. Koloski Ostrow, The Sarno bath Complex, S.A.P, 4, 1990