The Baths of Caracalla were in consistent use for over 300 years. They had been repaired, redecorated, restored, and refurbished over this long period of time. The last recorded alterations were done in the time of Theodoric (493-526). Baths were still very popular and considered a necessity. The amount of effort to keep them functioning throughout this period is astonishing. The Baths' demise came from the inability to maintain the aqueducts water supply. This is the result of the siege of the Goths in 537 when the aqueducts were cut and very few were opened again afterward. The abandonment of the Baths ultimately began its extended journey into antiquity and ruins.
It is unclear just exactly what became of the baths between its downfall and its rediscovery, however it is known that most of the sculptures and stone were mined and taken by vandals for other purposes. Based on the actions of the architects during the renaissance, who used the Roman forum as a foundation for quarries to rebuild, it is reasonable to conclude that the same actions were employed in the Baths during that same time period. There were also a series of earthquakes in the middle ages that caused much destruction. Despite the many obstacles the Baths faced, it remains one of the most well preserved ruins in Rome today.
It is no easy task to put the puzzle pieces back together of where recovered statues were once placed within the buildings. It wasn't until the 1540's when Alessandro Farnese, who served as Pope Paul III, began excavating the ruins of the baths in search of ancient statues to place in the Farnese Palace. The Farnese family were very important local aristocrats at the time and it was during these excavations that the Herakles Farnese and the Punishment of Dirke were recovered. Much of the marble that had once decorated the baths were also collected. They were able to have two of the marble basin's relocated to the piazza in front of the grand palazzo. Construction of the palazzo began in 1514 and was worked on until 1589. In fact, much of the structure of the palazzo is made from materials taken from the Baths of Caracalla as well as the Coliseum.
In 1748 the baths were divided among a number of proprietors and were eventually passed along and leased by Count Girolamo Egidio di Velo in 1824. Di Velo was a very wealthy man from Vicenza who's passion was collecting objects from antiquity. He received permits to excavate the baths in search of items to decorate his home and the tomb of Palladio. What he actually uncovered was detailed floor mosaics of famous athletes of the time. These mosaics were located in the semi-circular apses just off the Palaestrae. His goal of exporting the mosaics were delayed by the Director of Antiquities, Carlo Fea, who emphasized that the mosaics were an important part of the baths and belonged to the Papal State. Eventually di Velo succeeded in exporting the mosaics and after his death his collections were passed along to the Museo Civico of Vicenza. It wasn't until the late 19th century that systematic excavations were more thoroughly and carefully done. After that, restoration and preservation were the main goals of the Department of Antiquities.
Bibliography
Marvin, Miranda. "Freestanding Sculptures from the Baths of Caracalla." American Journal of
It is unclear just exactly what became of the baths between its downfall and its rediscovery, however it is known that most of the sculptures and stone were mined and taken by vandals for other purposes. Based on the actions of the architects during the renaissance, who used the Roman forum as a foundation for quarries to rebuild, it is reasonable to conclude that the same actions were employed in the Baths during that same time period. There were also a series of earthquakes in the middle ages that caused much destruction. Despite the many obstacles the Baths faced, it remains one of the most well preserved ruins in Rome today.
It is no easy task to put the puzzle pieces back together of where recovered statues were once placed within the buildings. It wasn't until the 1540's when Alessandro Farnese, who served as Pope Paul III, began excavating the ruins of the baths in search of ancient statues to place in the Farnese Palace. The Farnese family were very important local aristocrats at the time and it was during these excavations that the Herakles Farnese and the Punishment of Dirke were recovered. Much of the marble that had once decorated the baths were also collected. They were able to have two of the marble basin's relocated to the piazza in front of the grand palazzo. Construction of the palazzo began in 1514 and was worked on until 1589. In fact, much of the structure of the palazzo is made from materials taken from the Baths of Caracalla as well as the Coliseum.
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| "Thermae of Caracalla Pool at Piazza Farnese" by Chris 73 - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 |
In 1748 the baths were divided among a number of proprietors and were eventually passed along and leased by Count Girolamo Egidio di Velo in 1824. Di Velo was a very wealthy man from Vicenza who's passion was collecting objects from antiquity. He received permits to excavate the baths in search of items to decorate his home and the tomb of Palladio. What he actually uncovered was detailed floor mosaics of famous athletes of the time. These mosaics were located in the semi-circular apses just off the Palaestrae. His goal of exporting the mosaics were delayed by the Director of Antiquities, Carlo Fea, who emphasized that the mosaics were an important part of the baths and belonged to the Papal State. Eventually di Velo succeeded in exporting the mosaics and after his death his collections were passed along to the Museo Civico of Vicenza. It wasn't until the late 19th century that systematic excavations were more thoroughly and carefully done. After that, restoration and preservation were the main goals of the Department of Antiquities.
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| Baths of Caracalla, Tiled Mosaics of the Apodyterium, Rome, Italy, Copyright LuraPhotography |
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| Baths of Caracalla, Rome, Italy, Copyright LuraPhotography |
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| Baths of Caracalla, Frigidarium, Rome, Italy, Copyright LuraPhotography |
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| Baths of Caracalla, Rome, Italy, Copyright LuraPhotography |
Bibliography
Marvin, Miranda. "Freestanding Sculptures from the Baths of Caracalla." American Journal of
Archaeology Vol. 87, No. 3(1983): 347-84. Archaeological Institute of America, July 1983. Web.
29 Apr. 2014. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/504802>.
29 Apr. 2014. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/504802>.
Platner, Samuel B. "Forum Romanum Sive Magnum." Ed. Thomas Ashby. A
Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. London: Oxford UP, 1929. 230-37. Forum
Romanum Sive Magnum. 21 Aug. 2012. Web. 07 Aug. 2014. <http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/PLATOP*/Forum_Romanum.html>.
Platner, Samuel B. "Thermae Antoninianae." A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. Ed.
Thomas Ashby. London: Oxford UP, 1929. 520-24. 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 06 Aug. 2014. <http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/PLATOP*/Thermae_Antoninianae.html>.
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