The Baths - Origin

Question 1

Why have baths?

Answer 1

Cheap- in the interests of the state to subsidise because they helped ward off disease (most ppl didn’t have bathing facilities at home)

Question 2

How often?

Answer 2

Fundamental part of daily life

Question 3

How many bath houses?

Answer 3

4th century CE - hundreds

867 in Rome

Question 4

3rd century BCE

Answer 4

Wealthiest Romans built private bathing suites for themselves

Question 5

2nd century BCE

Answer 5

First public baths in Rome (balnea)

Privately owned and run, entrance fee was reasonable

Question 6

thermae

Answer 6

Grand and lavish public baths built in imperial times

11/867 where thermae

Question 7

First thermae

Answer 7

Built on Campus Martius

Commissioned by Marcus Agrippa

Question 8

Most lavish thermae

Answer 8

Caracalla (‘pleted 216CE)
13 hectares
1,600 bathers
Huge library

Diocletian (‘pleted 305CE)