HADRIANS BATHS AT LEPCIS MAGNA Where in the

HADRIAN’S BATHS AT LEPCIS MAGNA

Where in the world is Lepcis Magna again?

n n Hadrian’s Baths were built in Lepcis Magna 126 -7 AD. 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 n n 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. women had access to the baths but went at different times because there were no separate facilities for them. these baths were: n a source of civic pride, n a triumph of Roman technology, n a sign of wealth and security in a province, n a sign of Roman might to the local inhabitants, n a sign of Imperial generosity and concern in a province.

DESIGN OF THESE BATHS n n 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… unheated palaestra and frigidarium to the warmer tepidarium to the super-heated caldarium and laconica.

THE HYPOCAUSTUM n n n 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: n circulating warm air under the floor which was raised on little piers of bricks under the floor. n or through hollow spaces in the walls (flues).

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

NATATIO n n find picture of outdoor swimming pool RAA – notes (+ this one) are incomplete…. see n n this swimming pool was 1. 75 m deep it was the largest area in the baths. it had a vaulted portico of Corinthian columns on three sides and was the base was decorated with a gravel-like mosaic.

FRIGIDARIUM n n this cold pool was 18. 2 m x 14. 9 m. it was the centre of the complex and the largest and most important room. it separated the cold rooms from the hot rooms. the cold plunge pools were entered through arched entrance ways from the frigidarium.

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

TEPIDARIUM n n this was the first warm room. 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. two smaller baths were added later on each side of the central bath. These two smaller baths were surrounded by black marble columns.

CALDARIUM n n n the largest of the hot rooms at 22 m x 10. 9 m and was entered through the tepidarium. it was the most sourthern of the rooms. its was roofed with a barrel-vault with five arched windows

LACONICA n n n these were superheated sweat rooms. 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.

IS IT HOT IN HERE…? n n 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.

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

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

SO IN CONCLUSION… PALAESTRA NATATIO APODYTERIUM LATRINA FRIGIDARIUM TEPIDARIUM LACONICUM CALADRIUM UNCTORIUM FURNACE ROOMS