The Roman Bath
Garry Wong
Of all the leisure activities, bathing was surely the most important for the greatest number of Romans. It was part of the daily regimen for men of all classes, and many women as well. We think of bathing as a very private activity conducted at home, but bathing in ancient Rome was a communal activity, conducted for the most part in public facilities that in some ways resembled modern spas, country or health clubs.
By 33 BC there were 170 baths, public and private in Rome alone. As the Roman Empire grew, bathing places became more and more luxurious. By the end of the first century AD, huge private and public baths had been built. The daily bath had become a social occasion. By the end of the 4th century AD, there were 11 public baths and 926 private baths in Rome alone. The biggest bath, built in 305 AD, could accommodate over 3,000 bathers at the same time.
Men would go to the baths and stay for several hours of sports, bathing and conversations, after which they would be ready for a relaxing dinner. After changing clothes and oiling their bodies, male bathers typically began their regimen with exercises, ranging from mild weight-lifting, wrestling, various types of ball playing, running and swimming. Afterwards, bathers would have the dirt and oil scraped from their bodies with a curved metal implement called a strigil. Then, the bathing proper began. Bathers would progress at a leisurely pace through rooms of various temperatures.
They might start in the warm room, which had heated walls and floors but sometimes had no pool, and then proceed to the hot bath, which was closest to the furnace. This room had a large tub or small pool with very hot water and a waist-high fountain with cool water to splash on the face and neck. After this, the bather might spend some time in the warm room again before finishing in the cold room with a refreshing dip in the cold pool. After their baths, bathers could stroll in the gardens, visit the library, watch performances of jugglers or acrobats, listen to a literary recital, or buy a snack from the many food vendors.
Nowadays, people usually take a shower rather than spending time to bathe. However, there are reports from the academics that taking shower can be a health risk. It is because Trihalomethanes, byproducts from chlorination of tap water, appear to increase significantly after showering. Experts suspect the chemicals might boost the risk of cancer and contribute to reproductive problems such as miscarriages.
Therefore, it is highly advisable to treat the water properly, specifically, removing chlorine products in water used in taking shower or bath. Have a good and healthy bath!
The Contributor is a drinking-water specialist. Contents represent his own opinions on the topic, not those of our company. For further queries, please contact him directly at 3106-3700 or visit his website at www.mindbody.com.hk.