Public Bathrooms

1. Public Bathrooms By: Chay Whyte

2. Design • They spent vast amounts of money on an elaborate system public baths in both Rome and it’s colonies • These buildings were magnificent buildings that function as community centers • The buildings had rooms for men, women, gardens, libraries etc.

3. No Privacy • Bathing played a major part in ancient Roman culture and society • The romans considered public bathing an event • Though many contemporary cultures see bathing as a very private activity conducted in the home, bathing in Rome was a communal activity.

4. The Process • Bathing was done in stages • A bather might first enter a cold bath then move on to a lukewarm bath, and finally a steaming hot bath • sometimes the order would be reversed • The romans would scrub themselves with bronze brushes with metal teeth • Those who could afford this would get massages

5. So Much More • The bathhouse was more than just a place to wash.  It was kind of like what shopping malls are today. •   It was a place to meet friends, a place where you could get something to eat, a place to workout, even a place to read the days news.  • You could even get your hair cut and styled.

6. Criticism • While the baths were enjoyed by almost every Roman, there were those who criticized them. • The water was not renewed often and the remains of oil, dirt or even excrement were kept warm, providing a milieu for bacteria • It was a commonplace that wine, sex and baths are bad for the body but pleasurable.

7. Questions • What did some bathhouses look like • It was kind of like what shopping malls are today.

8. Sources • http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Roman_bathing