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Public Baths and Bathing Habits in Late Antiquity
This book examines the survival, transformation and eventual decline of Roman public baths and bathing habits in Italy, North Africa and Palestine during Late Antiquity.
eBook
Късноантичната баня при минералния каптаж на Сердика
The hot mineral spring in Serdica is of a particular importance for the Roman town. An establishment of a Roman spa complex utilising the mineral spring catchment is suggested for the early stages of the settlement development. However, the archaeological evidence is insufficient and of uncertain date. New parts of the complex, excavated between 2009 and 2015, suggest that the bath should be dated to the second quarter of the 4th c. AD. Several building phases are established during the existence of the building up to the end of the 6th c. AD. An earlier edifice from the 3rd or even late 2nd c. AD is unearthed under the Late Antique complex but its function as a bath remains uncertain. A reconstruction of the plan of the Late Antique bath is proposed based on its currently known components.
Journal Article
Investigation of Ancient Wall Painting Fragments Discovered in the Roman Baths from Alburnus Maior by Complementary Non-Destructive Techniques
In this study, several wall painting fragments discovered in the Roman baths from the archeological site Alburnus Maior (Roşia Montană, Romania) were analyzed with the aim to investigate the material composition of both plasters and pictorial layers. Dated from the beginning of the second century AD, these rare findings stand among the oldest examples of preserved decorative polychrome paintings on plaster excavated thus far in the former territory of the Roman province of Dacia. A non-destructive multi-analytical approach based on complementary techniques was considered: Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV fluorescence, and hyperspectral imaging (HSI). The obtained results highlight a common Roman color palette mainly based on naturally occurring earth pigments. Red ochre, yellow ochre, manganese-rich ochres/wads, carbon black, and calcite were identified. A traditional two-layer sequence of plasters was found—arriccio (based on lime and siliceous sands), and intonaco (pure lime). The presence of an organic protein binder, identified via FTIR analysis, and sustained by combined imaging documentation, indicates that the pigments were applied a secco. The obtained results are discussed in relation to previous published data, and they can be considered as valuable archeological indicators that contribute to the understanding of the painting techniques and the materials used in the Roman provinces.
Journal Article
A new bath complex in Late Roman Dyrrachium (Albania)
This note considers a Late Roman bath building recently discovered in Durrës, Albania (ancient Dyrrachium), near the presumed Roman city center. This discovery is particularly interesting given our limited knowledge of the urban layout and of bathhouses during this important phase of the city. Despite the limited scope of the excavations, the layout of the complex, as well as certain architectural characteristics, suggests the use of design principles based on Imperial baths. The exclusive use of bricks is significant for this area in Late Antiquity. The imposing monumentality of the structures is comparable to baths in cities with Imperial authority. In the absence of stratified layers linked to this structure, moldmade marks on the bricks and decorative features from the marble facing provide a chronological window between the last quarter of the 4th c. and around the middle of the 5th c. CE for its construction.
Journal Article
A healthy donation the Kissamos asclepius (λ 410) – its origin and possible context
This article publishes a previously unpublished artefact, a marble head of a bearded deity, probably that of Asclepius, currently held in the Kissamos Archeological Museum (cat. nr. Λ 410). The object found its way to the museum as a donation of the educational commission of the 1st primary school in Kissamos, where it was held for an indefinite period. The donation was made in April 1996. In this article an attempt to identify the monument, making use of analogies drawn from ancient art is made along with the presentation of the results of field research undertaken in the area of the city of Kissamos in December 2018 and August 2019, aimed at determining the most likely provenance of the artefact. Finally, an attempt will be made to place the object in the historical and social context of Kissamos, one of the most important centres in Crete during the Roman period, which according to A. Kouremnos had the status of civitas libera.
Journal Article
Public Baths and Bathing Habits in Late Antiquity: A Study of the Evidence from Italy, North Africa and Palestine A.D. 285-700
In this book Sadi Maréchal examines the survival, transformation and eventual decline of Roman public baths and bathing habits in Italy, North Africa and Palestine during Late Antiquity. Through the analysis of archaeological remains, ancient literature, inscriptions and papyri, the continued importance of bathhouses as social hubs within the urban fabric is demonstrated, thus radically altering common misconceptions of their decline through the rise of Christianity and elite seclusion. Persistent ideas about health and hygiene, as well as perpetuating ideas of civic self-esteem, drove people to build, restore and praise these focal points of daily life when other classical buildings were left to crumble.
eBook
Historical, Geometrical, and Constructive Analyses of the Rotonda Roman Baths in Catania (Sicily)
One of the main icons of the Roman civilisation are thermal baths, built as public places for personal hygiene, body and mind relaxation, recreation, social encounters, and sport. In Sicily, there is evidence of several thermal buildings dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. Notably, the “Terme della Rotonda”, in the city of Catania, have always attracted strong interest due to their intricate and fascinating architecture. However, at present the dating of the building remains within the complex is still uncertain, and diverse assumptions have been advanced on their original use. In this framework, this study presents the findings of a multidisciplinary research initiative aimed at advancing knowledge of this thermal complex. To this end, a 3D integrated survey of the complex was carried out, and architectural, typological, and construction analyses were conducted to examine the primary building elements. These investigations enabled us to provide detailed insights into the materials and construction techniques used, leading to a new hypothesis on the original layout of the thermal rooms. Additionally, a virtual platform of the archaeological site was developed to serve as a spatial information database, facilitating both scientific research and the dissemination of knowledge about the complex.
Journal Article
Impact of explosive volcanic eruptions around Vesuvius: a story of resilience in Roman time
Large explosive eruptions have reshaped the landscape around Vesuvius many times in prehistoric and historical times. Previous stratigraphic surveys suggested that people living in this area have probably abandoned their settlements (in the Bronze Age) or towns and villas (in the Roman period) for centuries after each major plinian eruption. New archaeological excavations on the northern slope of Vesuvius suggest a much more intriguing scenario. At Pollena Trocchia, an ongoing excavation has shown the superimposition of three different Roman structures, sandwiched between the deposits of the AD 79, AD 472, and AD 512 Vesuvius eruptions. Each of these eruptions more or less completely destroyed and buried the buildings under meters of volcanic products. Surprisingly, after a few years or decades, a new settlement was established exactly on the top of the buried one, indicating the immediate recovery of part of the devastated area. Our research documents the destruction of Roman buildings by volcanic eruptions over a period of five centuries (first to sixth century AD) and provides new insight into human behavior after major explosive eruptions.
Journal Article
A 3D BASED APPROACH TO THE ARCHITECTURAL STUDY OF THE ROMAN BATH AT THE SANCTUARY OF APOLLO HYLATES (KOURION, CYPRUS)
Roman baths represented a popular social practice of everyday life, cited in numerous literary sources and testified by ample archaeological remains all over the Roman Empire. Although regional studies have contributed extensively to our knowledge about how baths functioned and what was their social role in various regions of the Mediterranean, their study in Cyprus is yet to be developed. Moreover, despite the increasing availability of devices and techniques for 3D documentation, various characteristics, especially in relation to the heating and water supply system of the baths, were omitted and were not properly and accurately documented. The pilot case study outlined in this paper presents the 3D documentation of the Roman bath, excavated in the 1950s, within the area of the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates at Kourion (Limassol district). The creation of an accurate 3D model of the documented area through image and range based techniques combined with topographic data, allows the detailed analysis of architectural elements and their decorative features. At the same time, it enables accurate measurements of the site, which are used as input for the archaeological interpretation and virtual reconstruction of the original shape of the bath. In addition, this project aims to answer a number of archaeological research questions related to Roman baths such as their architectural features, function mode, and technological elements related to heating techniques.
Journal Article