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Next stop, the Baths!
The ancient Romans might hit the baths first, and then wander down to
the Forum, although many did prefer to get their shopping done early. In
all but the largest baths, there were separate hours for men and women. The
women's time slot was apparently much shorter, so that women probably had
to be more careful scheduling. Large baths had duplicate facilities.
The Public
Baths were
extremely popular. Roman women and men tried to visit the baths at least
once every day. The baths had hot and cold pools, towels, slaves to wait
on you, steam rooms, saunas, exercise rooms, and hair cutting salons. They
had reading rooms and libraries, as among the freeborn, who had the right
to frequent baths, the majority could read. They even had stores, selling
all kinds of things, and people who sold fast food. The baths were arranged
rather like a very large mall, with bathing pools.
The baths were packed. The people loved them. At one time, there were
as many as 900 public baths in ancient Rome. Small ones held about 300 people,
and the big ones held 1500 people or more! Some Roman hospitals even had
their own bathhouses. A trip to the bath was a very important part of
ancient Roman daily life.
Could kids use the baths? No. Was there an admission charge to the baths?
Yes. Could slaves use the baths? Properly, no. But the people who could,
as a matter of course, brought their slave attendants with them.
Bath Bubbles
from the Roman Bath Museum
Roman
Baths (Kent Schools) The
Roman Baths (Richland Schools) The
Roman Baths (Summit Schools)
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