Creation and usage of the Baths

        To pick up where I left off, Caracalla, Emperor from 212AD to 217AD, wanted to out-do his father Septimus Severus in every way, including building the largest bathing establishment in Rome. Roman baths were very important at the time and were considered a part of the daily routine for the citizens of the filthy city.

        By the 4th century, there were almost 800 baths in Rome alone. The Baths of Caracalla, offically named Thermae Antoninianae, were the largest of its time and most lavishly decorated. The luxurious designs of the interior were meant to provide a sense of wealth and importance not only for higher class people of Rome, but for the impoverished as well. The sheer size of the Baths stood as an example of Caracalla's intent to display his grandeur. There were many geometric and sparkling mosaics, beautifully painted stucco, and grand marble. The baths consisted of many different rooms that each held a specific purpose. The main rooms were the Frigidarium, Tepidarium, and the Caldarium. The Caldarium held many of the pools and the dome was almost as large as the dome of the Pantheon. The Tepidarium consisted of warm baths, while the Frigidarium consisted of cold baths.

Baths of Caracalla, Main building

Baths of Caracalla Reconstruction

Baths of Caracalla Reconstruction

        In some cases men and women bathed together but in most cases they came to the baths at different times of day. Women typically frequented the baths in the morning while the men bathed in the evenings after a long day of work or travel. The purpose of the baths was to obtain all around wellness and cleanliness. There was no real sense of body shame so it was not abnormal to be in the nude in front of others. The routine of the baths were to first be covered in oils and then exercise in the Palaestrae. Some of the activities included gymnastics, wrestling, playing ball, running, and swimming. This allowed them to sweat out the toxins so that they could be scraped down with a metal piece to remove the sweat and oils. After exercising they would bathe in the plunge pools. They would then make their way into the warm room, followed by the hot room, and then finally plunge into a cold pool. This was the process the people would follow to obtain a healthy personal hygiene. Not only were there baths and gymnasiums, but there were also libraries and lecture halls. These were so that the people of Rome could not only work out their bodies, but their minds as well.

        The theme in which these rooms were decorated focused on sculptural elements that were reflective of Caracalla's motive to appear strong and powerful. The hundreds of statues placed in the baths varied from a few that were bronze to the many that were painted marble. Most of the sculptures were of athletic figures or depictions of the weary Hercules holding apples in his right hand. The most notable was the Hercules Farnese which was a Roman copy of the Lysippos original that was made in 330BC. It was re-done by Glycon of Athens and served as a sort of theme in the Frigidarium. Also the Farnese Bull was another famous sculpture featured in the baths. These sculptures were created to be viewed from all sides and were placed in the eastern Palaestrae. Without the 360-degree angle of view, the sculptural narrative would be incomplete. Caracalla wanted to draw connections between not only himself and Hercules, but also the great and famous athletes and gladiators of the time.

'Hercules Farnese', Marble, Early 3rd century CE, Copy after late 4th century BCE original, Naples, Museo Nazionale 

'Farnese Bull', Early 3rd century CE, copy after Hellenistic original

        The designs of the buildings help clarify where the architects intended the sculptures to be placed. These niches were meant to hold and showcase the sculptures and some were even presented as fountains. Most of the sculptures were located in the rooms around the Palaestrae (Gymnasium). This was done to promote physical as well as intellectual activity. All of the sculptural representations hold a significance to the purpose of the baths and the themes they represent. Caracalla intended for the baths and the sculptures to showcase his power and strength. He succeeded in creating something that people of Rome could utilize and be reminded of his intentions, however as the ruins of the baths today show, nothing lasts forever.

     


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