HADRIAN’S BATHS AT LEPCIS MAGNA

Where in the world is Lepcis Magna again?

Hadrian’s Baths were built in Lepcis Magna AD. Hadrian’s Baths were built in Lepcis Magna AD. the town had a previous set of Baths known as the Hunting Baths but they were not in the Imperial (symmetrical) style. the town had a previous set of Baths known as the Hunting Baths but they were not in the Imperial (symmetrical) style.

BATHS IN GENERAL going to the baths was a daily routine for most Roman men. going to the baths was a daily routine for most Roman men. because the baths were a very important part of city life access cost very little, sometimes it was even free. because the baths were a very important part of city life access cost very little, sometimes it was even free. women had access to the baths but went at different times because there were no separate facilities for them. women had access to the baths but went at different times because there were no separate facilities for them. these baths were: these baths were: a source of civic pride, a source of civic pride, a triumph of Roman technology, a triumph of Roman technology, a sign of wealth and security in a province, a sign of wealth and security in a province, a sign of Roman might to the local inhabitants, a sign of Roman might to the local inhabitants, a sign of Imperial generosity and concern in a province. a sign of Imperial generosity and concern in a province.

DESIGN OF THESE BATHS the baths are symmetrical and are placed on a north/south axis. the baths are symmetrical and are placed on a north/south axis. these baths were set up so the bather would naturally progress from the… these baths were set up so the bather would naturally progress from the… unheated palaestra and frigidarium to the warmer tepidarium to the super-heated caldarium and laconica.

THE HYPOCAUSTUM a heated tank (the boiler) of water fed hot water to various parts of the baths. the hottest rooms were closer to the furnace. it also heated rooms by: circulating warm air under the floor which was raised on little piers of bricks under the floor. or through hollow spaces in the walls (flues).

PARTS OF THE ROMAN BATHS APODYTERIUM = changing room APODYTERIUM = changing room FRIGIDARIUM = room with cold pools FRIGIDARIUM = room with cold pools TEPIDARIUM = warm room for heating TEPIDARIUM = warm room for heating up the body up the body CALADRIUM = room with hot pools CALADRIUM = room with hot pools LACONICUM = steam room for sweating LACONICUM = steam room for sweating UNCTORIUM = massage room UNCTORIUM = massage room LATRINA = toilet LATRINA = toilet HYPOCAUSTUM = furnace room HYPOCAUSTUM = furnace room

NATATIO find picture of outdoor swimming pool find picture of outdoor swimming pool RAA – notes (+ this one) are incomplete….see RAA – notes (+ this one) are incomplete….see this swimming pool was 1.75m deep this swimming pool was 1.75m deep it was the largest area in the baths. it was the largest area in the baths. it had a vaulted portico of Corinthian columns on three sides and was it had a vaulted portico of Corinthian columns on three sides and was the base was decorated with a gravel-like mosaic. the base was decorated with a gravel-like mosaic.

FRIGIDARIUM this cold pool was 18.2m x 14.9m. this cold pool was 18.2m x 14.9m. it was the centre of the complex and the largest and most important room. it was the centre of the complex and the largest and most important room. it separated the cold rooms from the hot rooms. it separated the cold rooms from the hot rooms. the cold plunge pools were entered through arched entrance ways from the frigidarium. the cold plunge pools were entered through arched entrance ways from the frigidarium.

FRIGIDARIUM the frigidarium’s roof was larger than the other roofs. the frigidarium’s roof was larger than the other roofs. the roof consists of cross vaults. the roof consists of cross vaults. huge arched entrance ways were at the east and west ends. huge arched entrance ways were at the east and west ends. the walls were originally covered with elaborate marble. the walls were originally covered with elaborate marble.

TEPIDARIUM this was the first warm room. this was the first warm room. it was entered via a central door in the southern wall of the frigidarium. it was entered via a central door in the southern wall of the frigidarium. its main feature was a marble plunge bath which was entered through an arched opening flanked by grey marble columns. its main feature was a marble plunge bath which was entered through an arched opening flanked by grey marble columns. two smaller baths were added later on each side of the central bath. These two smaller baths were surrounded by black marble columns. two smaller baths were added later on each side of the central bath. These two smaller baths were surrounded by black marble columns.

CALDARIUM the largest of the hot rooms at 22m x 10.9m and was entered through the tepidarium. the largest of the hot rooms at 22m x 10.9m and was entered through the tepidarium. it was the most sourthern of the rooms. it was the most sourthern of the rooms. its was roofed with a barrel-vault with five arched windows its was roofed with a barrel-vault with five arched windows

LACONICA these were superheated sweat rooms. these were superheated sweat rooms. there were four rooms and they were to the north of the caldarium. there were four rooms and they were to the north of the caldarium. these rooms were made for people to sit in and sweat in, they would then be scraped. these rooms were made for people to sit in and sweat in, they would then be scraped.

IS IT HOT IN HERE…? the hotter rooms were placed on the southern side of the baths because of the position of the sun in the afternoon. the hotter rooms were placed on the southern side of the baths because of the position of the sun in the afternoon. there were a number of furnace rooms on the south side, close to the caldarium and the laconica. there were a number of furnace rooms on the south side, close to the caldarium and the laconica.

OTHER ROOMS IN THE BATHS PALAESTRA a vast exercise yard was to the north of the bath complex. a vast exercise yard was to the north of the bath complex. NON-WET ROOMS a further series of chambers run along the western and eastern sides of the complex that may have: a further series of chambers run along the western and eastern sides of the complex that may have: libraries, libraries, rest areas, rest areas, maybe even lecture halls. maybe even lecture halls.

LATRINA the toilets were on the east and west sides of the northern end. the toilets were on the east and west sides of the northern end. they had three sides of marble seated toilets. they had three sides of marble seated toilets. the toilets were also communal. the toilets were also communal. there was also had an apse in each toilet to hold a statue. there was also had an apse in each toilet to hold a statue.

SO IN CONCLUSION… PALAESTRANATATIOAPODYTERIUMLATRINAFRIGIDARIUMTEPIDARIUMLACONICUMCALADRIUMUNCTORIUM FURNACE ROOMS