Baths of Caracalla
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The Baths of Caracalla were Roman public baths, or thermae, built in Rome between 212 and 216 AD, during the reign of the Emperor Caracalla. The extensive ruins of the baths have become a popular tourist attraction. They are located at
The complex was 225 m (740 f) long, 185 m (390 f) wide and 38.5 m (125 f) estimated height, and could fit anywhere from 2000 to 3000 bathers. It consisted of a frigidarium (cold room), tepidarium (medium), and caldarium (hot room), as well as two palaestras (gyms where wrestling and boxing was practiced). Also part of the complex is an aqueduct (for the thermae or water reservoirs), where water was brought in.
The Caracalla bath complex of buildings was more a leisure centre than just a series of baths. The "baths" were the second to have a public library within the complex. Like other public libraries in Rome, there were two separate and equal sized rooms or buildings; one for Greek language texts and one for Latin language texts.
The building was heated by a hypocaust, a system of burning coal underneath the ground to heat water provided by a dedicated aqueduct. It was in use up to the 19th century.
In the early 20th century, the design of the baths was used as the inspiration for several modern structures, including Pennsylvania Station in New York City and National Assembly Building in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The ruins stand as the backdrop for the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma in the summer opera season. It has also become a venue for modern cultural events, such as the gymnastics competition during the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and the concert of the Three Tenors at the conclusion of the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
The baths are open to the public on payment of a small charge, which does not apply to students or pensioners. Access is limited to certain areas to avoid damage to the mosaic floors, although such damage is already clearly visible.
External links
- [History Channel website for ROME: ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE.] Take the video tour and see the Flash presentation on the Baths. Also see the Video Gallery for a short movie on the Baths.
- [Baths of Caracalla] Virtual 360° panorama and photos of the ruins.
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