Wright State University CORE Scholar

Classics Ancient Science Fair Religion, Philosophy, and Classics

Spring 2020

The Engineering of Roman Baths

Rachel Kinder Wright State University - Main Campus, [email protected]

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Part of the Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, and the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons

Repository Citation Kinder , R. (2020). The Engineering of Roman Baths. Dayton, Ohio.

This Poster is brought to you for free and open access by the Religion, Philosophy, and Classics at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Classics Ancient Science Fair by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Engineering of Roman Baths Rachel Kinder HST 4000-01, Spring 2020 Changes of Baths Over Time: Background and History: • Roman baths began to morph from large pools Vaulted Ceilings: of water to smaller, or even individual, pools • Roman baths incorporated several different (Biers, 315). types of architecture and engineering into one Cloaca Maxima: space and activity • Helped combat any water shortages • Name of Rome’s sewer system • More sanitary • Baths and their associated engineering

flourished 100BC-300AD (Ancient.eu). • Carried out both waste and other liquids, • Bath house buildings eventually made bigger such as the bath water, and washed it

• Would create emphasis on leisure in Roman away from the city center • side for men and side for women (Ward http://www. 131). lifestyle and challenge gender and social sgira.org/h • Often dumped into the Tiber, norms for women m/archrevg. Social Implications: htm which created sanitary hazards Aqueducts: despite their effort (Koloski-Ostrow, • Originally bath houses were only accessible to 62). men • Created in Rome in 312 BC (Scientific Journal, 25). • Flourished in Rome following mastery of the arch Parts of Baths: • As designs for baths changed, it was noted a • Eventually there were 11 in Rome (Cartwright). • Vaulted or dome ceilings most common in the • apodyterium – changing rooms second entrance, most likely for women was added to bath houses • Responsible for carrying fresh water supply out largest pool/bathing area in a bath house • palaestrae – exercise rooms of the mountains into city • notatio – outside swimming pool • Added coffers, or recessed panels into the • Many men did not approve of such behavior • laconica & sudatoria – dry and wet sauna in women • Highly influenced by Vitruvius in Chapter 8 of ceilings to reduce weight and add flare to design rooms (Sgira). • Pliny the elder: women in bath houses his work De Architectura or “about • tepidarium – room with warm bathing pool were of “‘lower moral character’” (Ward architecture” • calidarium – room with hot bathing pools Hypocaust: 135). • discusses water, where to find it, and (heated directly by hypocaust) frigidarium – cool water room, often the • In reality many reputable women used bath how to transport it safely • Made Roman baths one-of-a-kind • largest pool and space in the bathhouse houses in ancient Rome (Ward 131). Works Cited: • Made of: masonry trenches, terracotta pipes, • Fire fueled heating system used to warm the water Biers, Jane. “Lavari est Vivere: Baths in Roman Corinth.” Corinth. Vol. 20. 2003. pp. 303-319. and lead pipes of the baths for patrons DOI:10.2307/4390730. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4390730. Cartwright, Mark. “Roman Baths.” Ancient Encyclopedia of History. May, 2013. https://www.ancient.eu/Roman_Baths/. • Terracotta pipes ran behind and underneath the Kolosi-Ostrow, Ann Olga. “Understanding Roman Sanitation from Archeology: Toilets, Sewers, bath’s walls and floors and Water Systems.” The Archaeology of Sanitation in Roman Italy: Toilets, Sewers, and Water Systems. University of North Carolina Press, 2015. pp. 52-83. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5149/9781469621296_koloski-ostrow.7. “Roman Baths.” Scientific Journal. Vol. 77, No. 2. 1897. pp. 25-26. • Hot air streamed though the pipes to warm the ~ https://www.jstor.org/stable/26127262. space and the water (Biers, 310). “Roman Baths Timeline.” Ancient Encyclopedia of History. https://www.ancient.eu/timeline/Roman_Baths/. i--..... w..4 I - ,.,,..- I tke•::l.. • Fire proof materials such as metal, terracotta and ' Sgira.org. “Vaults.” Quick Guides to Italian Renaissance Architecture. marble essential for building baths and streaming http://www.sgira.org/hm/qkmap.htm. Vitruvius. “Book 8: Water.” De Architectura. very hot air (Scientific Journal, 26). https://pilot.wright.edu/d2l/le/content/540316/viewContent/3090799/View. https://archive.archaeology.org/1203/features/ho Ward, Roy Bowen. “Women in Roman Baths.” The Harvard Theological Review. Vol. 85, No. 2. w_a_roman_aqueduct_works.htmlRESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2019 www.PosterPresentations.com https://www.ancient.eu/Roman_Baths/ 1992, pp. 125-147. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1509900. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATI ON DESIGN © 2012 www.PosterPresentations.com