breathtaking and are a magnificent testament to Roman architecture.
Caracalla's baths remains are among the best preserved archeological
Caracalla's baths remains are among the best preserved archeological
complexes of the Roman times. Its remains are for us to glimpse into
their ancient world and at the same time emanate an unexplainable
disquiet. If there is one thing a visit to the Baths of Caracalla will do, is to
emphasise the sheer size and scale of the facility. Even today the ruins are
massive.
disquiet. If there is one thing a visit to the Baths of Caracalla will do, is to
emphasise the sheer size and scale of the facility. Even today the ruins are
massive.
The thermal baths provided two basic functions for the ancient Romans:
most of the population of Rome lived in crowded tenements without
running water or sanitary facilities and the baths provided much needed
sanitisation facilities, and as a bonus a great opportunity to socialise
and network at all levels.
HISTORY
The Baths of Caracalla located by ancient Appian Way in Rome were
The Baths of Caracalla located by ancient Appian Way in Rome were
named after the emperor Caracalla who reigned from A.D. 211-217.
His father Septimius Severus commissioned the baths and after his
death the project was completed by his son Caracalla in 216 A.D.
The reign of Caracalla donned an age of cruelty, absent from Imperial
Rome since perhaps the emperor Domitian or Nero in the second century.
Rome since perhaps the emperor Domitian or Nero in the second century.
Surviving busts of Caracalla portray a scowling and determined man
capable of great evil. Indeed, he killed his younger brother to secure
his throne. Despite however his personal deficiencies, Caracalla proved
to be an apt administrator.
The ruins of these baths are enormous and very well preserved with
many mosaics still partially intact. One must note the many arches used
throughout the building for both stability and aesthetics. The structure
endorsed 6300 m3 of marble and employed 600 marble workers and
6,000 tradesmen to labor on this one project. It is said that before
his death Septimius Severus issued 13,000 prisoners of war from
his campaigns in Spain to level the ground for the Caracalla Baths.
The interior of the building was enormously rich in color. The marble
walls were litteredith paintings and mosaics, the floors were also
mosaics, and painted sculpture adorned many if not all the alcoves.
mosaics, and painted sculpture adorned many if not all the alcoves.
The baths were designed with a central axis with the intention that from
end to end, an assortment of statues lining the entire central axis could be
visible. Many of the sculptures would have been on a very grand scale,
for example the famous larger-than-life Hercules which was found in the
baths in the 16th Century, and stands 10ft in tall. Much of the art that was
found on the walls and some mosaic floors have been removed and taken to
various museums around the world.
baths in the 16th Century, and stands 10ft in tall. Much of the art that was
found on the walls and some mosaic floors have been removed and taken to
various museums around the world.
In their time Caracalla's baths, were Rome's second largest public baths,
accommodating some 1600 bathers. The Baths of Caracalla like all bath
houses in ancient Rome included three fundamental bathing rooms.
These rooms consisted of the frigidarium (a cold pool), the tepidarium
(a lukewarm pool) and the calidarium (a hot pool). Broadly, there were
three large bathing rooms: a cold pool, a lukewarm pool and a hot
pool.
pool.
There were also other facilities to relax and indulge in, a bit like a modern
spa today. The Baths of Caracalla came equipped with two libraries
and extensive gardens to walk about and enjoy as well as a swimming
pool for recreational use.
The gardens are still there to be enjoyed. For the actual baths you will
need to use your imagination to visualise what it was like all those
years ago, wrapping your imagination around the carcass of the remains
of the vast complex in front of you.
The Tepidarium and Calidarium were positioned closes to a furnace.
The walls and floor of both the tepidarium and calidarium were heated by
a system called the hypocaust. The floor was raised and spaces were left
between the walls to allow for hot air from a massive furnace to
circulate through.
The frigidarium was located in the middle of the building and flanked by
two massive zones called Palaestra (gyms), they were gymnastic areas
that were open to the sky. It was in the Palaestra that games and
competitions were held, or simply used as an area to run and workout.
Both areas were
competitions were held, or simply used as an area to run and workout.
Both areas were
1,076 x 1,315 ft (328 x 400m) in size.
The Natatio at the back of the building was an Olympic size pool
(80m long) and reserved for recreational swimming activities.
(80m long) and reserved for recreational swimming activities.
The Caracalla Baths are particularly extraordinary when lit up
at night.
During summertime the baths turn into a stage for breath taking classical
ballet and Opera plays. Check the program at www.operaroma.it
Where are they located?
The Baths of Caracalla are located south of the city center along a corridor
of ancient archaeological remains that extend from the Colosseum to the
old Appian Way (Via Appia Antica) and Via Antonina, where the remains
of the Arco di Druso, andthe remains of the Aqua Antoniniana (an old
Roman aqueduct) are located.
Roman aqueduct) are located.
The Baths of Caracalla are accessible from Via Terme Di Caracalla, and are
a 5-minute walk from the Circo Massimo Metro station. The baths can also
be reached by using the 118 bus. The same bus can be used to reach the
Old Appian Way, which may result in a very nice combination tour.
be reached by using the 118 bus. The same bus can be used to reach the
Old Appian Way, which may result in a very nice combination tour.
Tickets for the Baths of Caracalla
The Baths of Caracalla have a small admission charge and are open daily
The Baths of Caracalla have a small admission charge and are open daily
except for Monday.
There is just a small bookshop at the entrance gate, but there is no proper
There is just a small bookshop at the entrance gate, but there is no proper
exhibition area, and information boards are few and far between. Hiring an
audio guides is thus worthwhile if you are to make sense of what you see
before you. Even better would be to join a guided tour, accompanied by
a good archaeologist, who will be able to involve you making your visit to
the Baths of Caracalla simple and fun.
a good archaeologist, who will be able to involve you making your visit to
the Baths of Caracalla simple and fun.
DISCLAIMER:
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and therefore of public domain.
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qualcosa in contrario alla pubblicazione, non avranno che da segnalarlo
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qualcosa in contrario alla pubblicazione, non avranno che da segnalarlo
alla redazione - indirizzo email: romaelazioxte@gmail.com in modo da
ottenere immediata rimozione di dette immagini.