HADRIAN’S HADRIAN’S BATHS AT LEPCIS BATHS AT LEPCIS

MAGNAMAGNA

Where in the world is Where in the world is Lepcis Magna again?Lepcis Magna again?

Hadrian’s Baths were built in Lepcis Hadrian’s Baths were built in Lepcis Magna 126-7 AD. Magna 126-7 AD.

the town had a previous set of Baths the town had a previous set of Baths known as the Hunting Baths but they known as the Hunting Baths but they were not in the Imperial were not in the Imperial (symmetrical) style.(symmetrical) style.

BATHS IN GENERALBATHS IN GENERAL going to the baths was a daily routine for most Roman going to the baths was a daily routine for most Roman

men.men. because the baths were a very important part of city life because the baths were a very important part of city life

access cost very little, sometimes it was even free. access cost very little, sometimes it was even free. women had access to the baths but went at different women had access to the baths but went at different

times because there were no separate facilities for them.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 sign of wealth and security in

a province, a province, a sign of Roman might to the a sign of Roman might to the

local inhabitants, local inhabitants, a sign of Imperial generosity and a sign of Imperial generosity and

concern in a province. concern in a province.

DESIGN OF THESE BATHSDESIGN OF THESE BATHS the baths are symmetrical and are placed the baths are symmetrical and are placed

on a north/south axis.on a north/south axis. these baths were set up so the bather these baths were set up so the bather

would naturally progress from the…would naturally progress from the…

unheated unheated palaestrapalaestra and and frigidariumfrigidarium

to the warmer to the warmer tepidariumtepidarium

to the super-heated to the super-heated caldarium caldarium and and laconicalaconica..

THE HYPOCAUSTUMTHE HYPOCAUSTUM a heated tank (the boiler) of water fed hot water to various a heated tank (the boiler) of water fed hot water to various

parts of the baths. parts of the baths. the hottest rooms were closer to the furnace. the hottest rooms were closer to the furnace. it also heated rooms by:it also heated rooms by:

circulating warm air circulating warm air under the floor under the floor which was raised on which was raised on little little piers of brickspiers of bricks under the under the floor.floor.

or through hollow or through hollow spaces in the walls spaces in the walls (flues). (flues).

PARTS OF THE ROMAN BATHSPARTS 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 sweatingLACONICUM = steam room for sweating UNCTORIUM = massage room UNCTORIUM = massage room LATRINA = toilet LATRINA = toilet HYPOCAUSTUM = furnace room HYPOCAUSTUM = furnace room

NATATIONATATIO

find picture of find picture of outdoor swimming outdoor swimming poolpool

RAA – notes (+ this RAA – notes (+ this one) are one) are incomplete….seeincomplete….see

this swimming pool this swimming pool was 1.75m deepwas 1.75m deep

it was the largest area it was the largest area in the baths.in the baths.

it had a vaulted it had a vaulted portico of Corinthian portico of Corinthian columns on three columns on three sides and was sides and was

the base was the base was decorated with a decorated with a gravel-like mosaic.gravel-like mosaic.

FRIGIDARIUMFRIGIDARIUM 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 it was the centre of the complex

and the largest and most and the largest and most important room. important room.

it separated the cold rooms from it separated the cold rooms from the hot rooms. the hot rooms.

the cold plunge pools were the cold plunge pools were entered through arched entrance entered through arched entrance ways from the frigidarium.ways from the frigidarium.

FRIGIDARIUMFRIGIDARIUM the frigidarium’s roof was larger the frigidarium’s roof was larger

than the other roofs.than the other roofs. the roof consists of cross vaults. the roof consists of cross vaults. huge arched entrance ways were huge arched entrance ways were

at the east and west ends. at the east and west ends. the walls were originally covered the walls were originally covered

with with elaborate marble.elaborate marble.

TEPIDARIUMTEPIDARIUM this was the first warm room.this was the first warm room. it was entered via a central door in the it was entered via a central door in the

southern wall of the frigidarium. southern wall of the frigidarium. its main feature was a marble its main feature was a marble

plunge bath which was entered plunge bath which was entered through an arched through an arched opening flanked opening flanked by grey marble columns.by grey marble columns.

two smaller baths were added two smaller baths were added later on each side of the central later on each side of the central bath. These two smaller baths bath. These two smaller baths were surrounded by black marble columns.were surrounded by black marble columns.

CALDARIUMCALDARIUM

the largest of the hot rooms at the largest of the hot rooms at 22m x 10.9m 22m x 10.9m and was entered and was entered through the tepidarium.through the tepidarium.

it was the most sourthern of the it was the most sourthern of the rooms.rooms.

its was roofed with a barrel-vault its was roofed with a barrel-vault with five arched windows with five arched windows

LACONICALACONICA these were superheated sweat these were superheated sweat

rooms.rooms. there were four rooms and they were there were four rooms and they were

to the north of the caldarium. to the north of the caldarium. these rooms were made for people to these rooms were made for people to

sit in and sweat in, they would then sit in and sweat in, they would then be scraped.be scraped.

IS IT HOT IN HERE…?IS IT HOT IN HERE…?

the hotter rooms were placed on the the hotter rooms were placed on the southern side of the baths because of the southern side of the baths because of the position of the sun in the afternoon.position of the sun in the afternoon.

there were a number there were a number of furnace rooms on of furnace rooms on the south the south side, close side, close to the caldarium and to the caldarium and the laconica. the laconica.

OTHER ROOMS IN THE OTHER ROOMS IN THE BATHSBATHS

PALAESTRAPALAESTRA a vast exercise yard was to the north of the bath a vast exercise yard was to the north of the bath

complex.complex.

NON-WET ROOMSNON-WET ROOMS a further series of chambers run along the a further series of chambers run along the

western and eastern sides of the complex that western and eastern sides of the complex that may have:may have: libraries, libraries, rest areas, rest areas, maybe even lecture halls.maybe even lecture halls.

LATRINALATRINA the toilets were on the east and the toilets were on the east and

west sides of the northern end. west sides of the northern end. they had three they had three

sides of marble sides of marble seated toilets. seated toilets.

the toilets were the toilets were also communal.also communal.

there was also there was also had an apse in had an apse in each toilet to each toilet to hold a statue. hold a statue.

SO IN CONCLUSION…SO IN CONCLUSION…PALAESTRAPALAESTRA

NATATIO NATATIO

APODYTERIUM APODYTERIUM

LATRINA LATRINA

FRIGIDARIUM FRIGIDARIUM

TEPIDARIUMTEPIDARIUM

LACONICUM LACONICUM

CALADRIUM CALADRIUM

UNCTORIUM UNCTORIUM

FURNACE ROOMSFURNACE ROOMS