Original taken from spqr_ru in Baths of Caracalla
A fairly large area in the city is occupied by the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla. In Antiquity, they had a fence, an inner park and the building itself. Inside, in many places, floor mosaics with various patterns have been preserved, but the mosaics of the walls have practically not survived.
A - Shops B - Garden of xystus C - Stairway D - Cisterns E - Stadium (?) F - Library G - Caldarium H - Halls I- Sauna room L - Gym |
M - Dressing room N - Swimming pool O - Frigidarium P - Tepidarium Q - Entrance R - Mythraeum S - Undegraund levels T - Furnaces U - Water mill |
Baths of Caracalla, or Antonine baths. Built on the Aventine spur, between the Appian and Ardeatinian roads, these baths became the most luxurious of all the baths in the City, second only to the later built Baths of Diocletian in size. The construction of Thermes begins during the reign of the Emperor Septimius Severus (193 - 211) and is continued during the reign of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (211 - 217), known by the nickname Caracalla (hence both the names of Thermes), until their dedication in 216. the building at Heliogabalus (218 - 222) and Alexander Sever (222-235), porticoes are attached. In addition, the Baths are being restored during the times of Aurelian (270 - 275), Diocletian (284 - 305) and Theodoric the Great (475 - 526).
Baths of Caracalla were able to simultaneously contain up to 16 thousand people who were washed and at the same time provide them with a sufficient amount of water for washing, collected in 64 spacious cisterns. Accommodation for such a large number of visitors, as well as all kinds of assistive devices required a vast territory for washing and rest, so it is not surprising that it reached 10 hectares. The ensemble of thermal baths was formed by two buildings, in the plan representing two rectangles, one of which is inscribed in the other. The main one is the inner one: a magnificent building dedicated to the baths themselves. It covers an area of 214 x 110 m and has a semicircular ledge on the side opposite to the entrance. Meanwhile, the building, framing it and complemented by two protrusions of exedra on the sides, is a high wall that encloses a vast (337 x 328 m) courtyard around the main building, or peribol, the base of which is an artificial terrace. The main (it is also a bathhouse) building with its main facade faces the courtyard gates and is located relatively close to them. Both entrances to Therme, both to the courtyard and to the bathhouse, face the northeast.
Although the name of the architect who designed Therme is unknown, his professionalism is beyond doubt. For the entire ensemble is placed by him in such a way that makes the sequential implementation of all bath procedures recommended by doctors of that time. No less obvious in the composition of Thermes is the loyalty of their creator to Roman architectural traditions, for here general structure The Trajan baths, built about a century earlier, between 104 and 109, appear to be well assimilated and developed in their own way. Mirror symmetry inherent in both components of the ensemble - the courtyard and the bath building - is here to make the location of the seats easy to see and thereby facilitate the visitor's spatial orientation.
The path that a visitor to Therme usually took was something like this. Passing through the gate in the fence, he found himself in front of a large, but outwardly modest, without any decoration, facade of a bathhouse with three entrances.
After passing through one of them, the visitor entered the nearest of the two apoditeria (dressing rooms), located symmetrically, on both sides of the entrances; there he took off his clothes and left them for the cloakroom slave to snore. From there, if he was physically healthy, he went to the palaestra (also to one of the two, symmetrically located), so that, according to the advice of Roman doctors, he would stretch his body with exercises before taking a bath. From the palestra, the visitor to Therme usually went to the laconic, or sudatorium, where he steamed in dry and hot steam before washing, after which he cleaned his skin of sweat and dirt with a shear. Then from the laconic (or, if he was not very inclined to bodily exercises and hot steam, then immediately from the entrance) he passed into the located in the back
parts of the building of the caldarium, or calidarium, where the heat was supposedly 50 or 55 degrees and where visitors bathed hot water.
It should be noted that, having entered the caldarium, the visitor left the side rooms and ended up in the first of the enfilade of halls on the central axis. Through these halls he moved further in the direction opposite to the one in which he walked earlier, i.e. towards the entrance. From hall to hall, the heat decreased. Coming out of the caldarium, the washing person entered an intermediate room, which was called tepidarium due to the lower temperature. From here, in turn, opened the entrance to the frigidarium - a vast hall, the air and water of which cooled the heated body. The wash ended with a dip in a pool called the natation and filled with cold water, where you could swim. After all this, the visitor, with a pleasant feeling of physical comfort, walked along the wide courtyard, indulging there various games and muses. This was the usual bath cycle at the Baths of Caracalla, as well as in other large Roman baths.
Now let's briefly talk about the most remarkable places of this monument.
The halls intended for bathing procedures were spacious and unusually high: the height of their walls was 20 m. The caldarium covered with a huge dome had the shape of a wide (34 m diameter) circle in plan arched windows, which made it possible for the sun's rays to illuminate and warm the hall for as long as possible during the day. The dome was supported by eight powerful pillars (of which only four remain today). The middle of the caldarium was occupied by a wide round basin.
If you walk to the center of the previous photo and then turn right.
Another of the most notable halls of the building was the frigidarium, or Basilica. Its area is 58 x 24 m. This very spacious hall is located at the intersection of the two main axes of the building, longitudinal and transverse, of which the latter is accepted by the special length of the hall itself. The frigidarium was covered with three vaults; they rested on eight large pillars, decorated with additional columns of gray granite, one in front of each. At both ends of the frigidarium there was one large bathtub of gray granite (both of which are now part of the Piazza Farnese ensemble in Rome). As for the nation, which was 53 m long, this pool lay in the open air, without any overlap.
At the rear of the courtyard stood sixty-four cisterns, holding 80,000 liters of water delivered by the Aqua Marcia aqueduct through the Aqua Antoniniana aqueduct. On both sides of the cisterns were libraries - Greek and Latin. In front of the cisterns and parallel to them, a stadium stretched. Walking paths were laid along the edges of the courtyard, which was teeming with greenery in summer. Outside, the yard was fenced with porticoes and benches, located on two floors. Downstairs, in a grandiose and complex complex of underground rooms, there were services and devices necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the baths. The central point of this whole system, its, so to speak, heart was a huge hearth, which heated both water and air for the needs of those taking baths, which was distributed through the hypocaust (i.e., a system of voids in the walls and floors) to heat each bath room to the required temperature in it. Also underground, or rather, under the large left exedra, was the Mithraeum, one of the most significant of the City's Mithraeums.
Small pool in the Frigidarium. In a sense, he was lucky to survive, because he quickly went underground. So are the floor mosaics.
In ancient times, Antoninia's herms were abundantly decorated with works of various arts: statues of gods and heroes, portrait images
emperors, floor mosaics and wall paintings. A significant part of them saw the light again thanks to excavations at different times. Among the statues found there, Hercules Farnese and Flora Farnese are well known for a long time, both of colossal size, marble, both now kept in the Archaeological Museum of Naples. The first of them depicts the hero possessing muscles beyond all measure, naked and resting, leaning on his club, most likely after one of his exploits. This is the work of Glykon the Athenian, created at the beginning of the 2nd century. BC, is believed to be a loose interpretation of the sample of Lysippos
Equal to them in their fame, similar to the material (marble), as well as the archaeological origin (Baths of Caracalla) and the current) location (museum in Naples), the so-called Farnese Bull, which has been substantially restored and is, apparently, a copy from a work created in II or in the 1st century. BC NS. in Rhodes. Its plot is the execution, which Zeta and Amphion betray to Dirk, tying her to the horns of an angry bull and taking revenge on her in this way for persecuting their mother Antiope. Pliny the Elder (XXXVI, 34) names two sculptors, Apollonius and Tavriska of Thrall, as authors of the original, and says that this work, created from a single piece of marble, was at his time among the Monuments of Asinius Polion.
These three statues were found during the reign of Pope Paul III Farnese (1534-1549) and were kept in the collection of the Farnese family before being transported to Naples in 1786, hence their nickname. The fourth of the most famous statues found in the Baths of Karakalla is the Belvedere torso, which, being discovered in the Renaissance, for a long time captivated the imaginations of great artists with its perfection. Initially, the statue probably depicted a seated Hercules, from whose figure only a torso with hips and without a head and the hero's seat engraved with the name of the author, a certain Apollonius, the son of Nestor, the Athenian, have survived. This statue, according to experts, was created in the 1st century. before and. NS.; it is kept in the Vatican Museums.
Also noteworthy are the mosaics discovered during excavations, especially those that adorned the exedras of the palastra and depict athletes; they were found in 1824 and are also in the Vatican Museums. Other mosaic works are also interesting, especially two-color (black and white), strictly and expressively representing sea deities, aquatic animals and people.
The end of the work of the Baths of Caracalla was laid by the Ostrogoths: besieging the City in 537, they destroyed the aqueduct that provided water to this gigantic bathing enterprise.
Then comes long period desolation and gradual destruction, when Therma, like many other ancient monuments of the City, turns into abundant and easily accessible quarries. In the XVI century. many works of art are found here, of which the most famous are mentioned above. Around the same time, this monument began to be diligently measured and described.
architects.
But carried out according to scientific methods excavations began in Terme only in 1824, and the first result was the discovery of mosaics. Since the beginning of the XX century. the underground parts of Term are being investigated. In 1938, this work leads to the discovery under one of the large exedras of the aforementioned Mithraeum. Subsequently, for about half a century, the ruins of Thermes were used as a stage for opera performances, which were held with great success. These performances, however, provoked protests from competent specialists concerned with the preservation of the monument.
Belvedere torso (now Rome, Vatican Museums).
Date of publication:
2014-04-10
Baths (baths) in Ancient rome arose according to the Greek model and by the beginning of the 1st century AD became one of the main centers public life Roman civilization. The baths played a more important role than a simple bathing place. People came here not only to wash off the dirt - they rested here in body and soul, discussed business and civil issues. For this, the baths, in addition to the baths themselves, included gymnasiums (halls for sports), stages for theatrical performances, libraries, special rooms for communication and park areas. Each visitor received a full range of services for aesthetic enjoyment.
Architecturally, the baths were a new type of public building intended for large numbers of people. By building them, the Roman emperors pursued the same goal as by erecting amphitheaters - to gain popularity among the population. For the baths, majestic and spatial structures were created, distinguished by indescribable luxury and sculptures. The pools were built of precious marble, washstands and vessels were made of silver and gold, and the floors were laid out with elaborate mosaics.
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Baths of Caracalla after the fall of Rome
The baths functioned until 537, when, after another attack by the barbarians, all aqueducts supplying water to the Aventine Hill were disabled or blocked. The Baths of Caracalla gradually fell into decay, and the arrival of papal rule led to their final destruction, since in Christian Rome such buildings were considered pagan. Only in the 16th century, archaeological excavations began to be carried out at the site of ancient ruins, which led to the looting of antique buildings. For example, Pope Paul III of the Farnese clan ordered, whenever possible, to use the ruins of the thermal baths as building material for the construction of his new palace.
In subsequent years, beggars and socially dangerous people found refuge on the ruins of the thermal baths. At the end of the 19th century, their territory was cleared and adapted for cultural events taking place in the city. For example, concerts of symphony orchestras and performances of some famous theaters were held here. However, in 1995, all public events on the territory of the ancient baths of Caracalla were prohibited in order to further preserve the monument of world importance.
- group tour (up to 10 people) for the first acquaintance with the city and the main attractions - 3 hours, 31 euros
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The baths in Rome, built by order of the Emperor Caracalla, were a grandiose structure for that time and were intended for bathing citizens. The Baths of Caracalla may well be considered the prototype of modern sports and entertainment centers with swimming pools and saunas.
Septimius Bassian Caracalla - the path to power
Septimius Bassian (186-217) - the original name of the Roman emperor, who was later nicknamed Caracalla for the fact that he introduced a wide Gaulish caracalla cloak into use in Rome, returning from a campaign against the Germans in 213. He was the eldest son of a Roman commander, and then Emperor Septimius Severus (born in Africa) and Julia Domna (born in Syria). Having received a good education and knowledge in Greek literature, later became a military man and treated all scientists with contempt.
His father Sever, becoming emperor in 196, proclaimed himself adopted son Marcus Aurelius, and then his son Septimius began to be called Marcus Aurelius Antoninus as heir. As a young man, he successively received all the titles and honorary Roman titles: in 196 - Caesar, in 198 - August.
After the death of his father, Septimius and his brother Geta jointly inherited power. However, a year later, Caracalla tricked his brother to negotiate with his mother and killed him in front of her. Septimius Bassian was very a cruel man, going to their goal - to become an emperor - through the corpses of all their relatives: wife and her relatives, brother and 20 thousand of his supporters. Because of this, the Roman emperor is sometimes presented as mentally unstable, but other information notes his extraordinary mental abilities and talent as an orator.
Caracalla - Roman emperor (211-217)
Emperor Caracalla marked the beginning of his reign in 212 with the proclamation of an edict declaring all the inhabitants of the Roman Empire free. However, he immediately introduced taxes on citizens necessary to supply the army.
One of the historical structures, thanks to which the emperor left a memory of himself, were the terms (public baths) erected under his leadership and named after Caracalla. Their construction began in 206.
The emperor carried out several military campaigns: in 213 to Germany and Rhetia, where he defeated the Alemans and Hutts and built defensive structures on the border of the Roman Empire, in 214 - to the Middle Danube. Cherishing the vain thoughts of conquering the Parthian kingdom following the example of Alexander the Great, he began to prepare a campaign, during which in 217 he was killed in a conspiracy of the praetorian prefect Oppelius Macrinus and his associates. A marble bust of the Emperor Caracalla is kept in the Pergamon Museum (Berlin, Germany).
Thermal construction history
Citizens of the Roman Empire paid great attention to the issues of washing and personal hygiene, finding in this a source of pleasure. During the heyday of the empire, there was even a science about the device of baths and the conduct of all procedures in them.
Construction work on the construction of the thermal baths was started in 206 by order of the Emperor Septimius Severus, and then continued by his son Caracalla.
One of the most important structures and assets of Rome, which marked the era of Caracalla, is the Baths of Antoninian, which were completed by 216. The walls of the thermae were laid out of bricks and carefully concreted; marble was used for decoration (only 6.3 thousand cubic meters). More than 10 thousand workers took part in the work and almost 2 thousand craftsmen worked on the finishing of all structures. With their long construction, the thermae caused significant damage to the state treasury of Rome.
As a politician, the Roman emperor tried to win the favor of the people of Rome, who at that time had competitions in the Colosseum and bathing in the baths. There were almost 80 public baths in the city.
Even after the destruction, the baths were considered one of the wonders of the world of the Roman Empire and received their historical name- Baths of Caracalla.
Baths of Caracalla in Rome: description
The huge building of the thermal baths was intended as public baths, in which Roman citizens received not only bathing and bathing services, but also some entertainment, sports and intellectual. This public building was striking in size, richness of architecture and decorative finishes.
The dimensions of the entire structure were 337x328 m, its height - 38.5 m. It could simultaneously accommodate 1.5 thousand people. According to the estimates of contemporaries, 6-8 thousand inhabitants of the city bathed in the thermal baths every day. The building was located in the middle of the park, and additional buildings were located around. The walls of the building were made of polished marble and rested at the top against a high vault. What the baths of Caracalla looked like in Rome, the photo below clearly demonstrates.
According to the conclusion of historians, there were two libraries in the baths - spacious halls located opposite the central entrance - in the distance, in the park area. They housed niches with scrolls in Latin and Greek, which were approached by small steps.
Rows of amphitheater with seating were installed between the library rooms. A stadium was made in front of the rows of benches, which could be seen even from the remote rooms of the thermal complex.
A spacious park surrounded all the thermal structures, there were many places for relaxation and philosophizing. There was also an art gallery, restaurants and shops on site.
On the territory of the thermal bath there were 64 cisterns for water coming through the aqueduct. Below, in the basements of the building, there were 2 more levels of water supply. In the first, the water was heated, in the second, a drain was made for the already used one. The length of the underground structures was 4 km.
Thermal device and interior design
The main building of the thermal bath was 228x116 m in size and included 3 bathing rooms:
- frigidarium - large unheated room and a pool with cold water;
- tepidarium (warm pool);
- caldarium (hot water pool).
In the last two rooms, the walls and the floor were warmed up by supplying hot air through special voids and openings.
There were 4 entrances to the emperor Caracalla's baths: two of them were on both sides of the frigidarium and two led to the covered halls. Around the wide caldarium were located small rooms for individual washing. Nearby are large rooms for public meetings.
All floors were decorated with beautiful mosaics and the walls were tiled with marble. Also inside the thermal complex there were many sculptures: in different time there were the Farnese bull, the statues of Apollo Belvedere, Hercules and Flora.
On the sides of the main entrance there were deep exedra niches in a semicircle, opposite each was a gymnasium (palestra). Competitions, trainings and games were held here.
Baths were the social and cultural center of Rome, to which both poor people and rich patricians came for recreation and sports and educational leisure. There was a gymnasium and a sports stadium, a beautiful park, a library and a theater.
How the Romans swam in the baths
At the entrance to the bathhouse, the visitors were served by slaves who undressed them. Through the openings in large hall you could go to the gym and sauna. After taking bath procedures, the Romans went to the frigidarium with an open-air swimming pool. From here one could walk up the stairs to the main hall, at the top of which there was a huge dome. The vault was supported by 8 large red columns.
In the main hall, translucent stone plates were embedded in semicircular windows for decoration, with the help of which an unusual golden illumination was created inside. What did the baths of Caracalla look like then? See the photo of the reconstruction of the main hall below.
Caldarium was round shape(35 m in diameter), along its perimeter there were beds on which one could rest or receive a massage from specially trained slaves using aromatic oils. In the middle there was a hot pool, around the hall there were rooms for individual washing.
Then followed the tepidarium and frigidarium - such a plan water treatments(gradual decrease in temperature) was recommended by ancient doctors.
Excavation of the thermal baths of Caracalla
The first archaeological excavations began at the direction of Pope Paul III Farnese in the XIV century: then many works of art were discovered, as well as the underground temple of Mithra. The purpose of the excavation was to extract building material for the new papal palace.
As a result of the first works, 2 statues of Hercules and 2 porphyry baths were found, one of which was converted into a fountain bowl in Fornese Square, and the other was transported to the Vatican. A granite column was dug from the ground and then presented to the Medici dukes.
According to records in historical sources, the baths of the Emperor Caracalla were periodically used for concerts in ancient times, which was a tribute to the historical memory of this architectural structure.
Underground tunnels in the thermal baths
During excavations in the underground part of the territory where the baths of the emperor Caracalla are located, tunnels and Mithreum - the temple of the cult of Mithra, which is the largest in Rome, were discovered. Its restoration, worth 400 thousand euros, during which the vaults and the floor with mosaics were reconstructed in fragments, took several years. Underpasses and adjacent premises were also restored.
Mithraeums, temples of the Indo-Iranian deity of contract and consent, were popular in Rome in the 3rd century, they were always built underground, in the middle of the temple there was a sacred hall with a pit for sacrifices. The Temple of Mithra in the Baths of Caracalla was discovered in 1912.
Now these underground passages and the temple are open to visitors, but only 2 months a year (due to the continued restoration work) tourists are allowed there in groups of 25 people.
What is left of the famous terms now
The Baths of Caracalla in Rome operated for over 300 years and even underwent reconstruction. However, in 537 the Goths destroyed the aqueduct through which water was supplied, and the work of the bath was stopped.
The time, several earthquakes over the centuries, as well as the negligence and looting of some residents and tourists, turned the buildings of the thermal baths into ruins.
But now it's not just the ruins of the Roman Empire, which are visited by crowds of tourists every day. Beginning in 1937, the huge ruins were transformed into a 22-meter-long stage for an opera house. Donizetti's opera was performed there as a premiere.
The most famous concert took place in 1990 with three famous opera tenors: Domingo, Pavarotti and Carreras.
The auditorium, under which the former tepidarium is used, can accommodate 20 thousand spectators after reconstruction.
Modern revival of the Baths of Caracalla
In memory of the famous bath complex in Italy, a professional line was launched cosmetics, called Terme Di Caracalla (baths of Caracalla). Face and body care cosmetics are designed for use in spas and spa centers. For older women, it is recommended to saturate the skin with vitamins and minerals with the addition of antioxidant protection. Body scrubs and gommages free the dermis from dirt and old cells. The Pink Grapefruit Cleansing Line helps to regulate the secretion of fat in skin cells. Anti-cellulite mud with natural ingredients tones fabrics with high efficiency.
Using cosmetics with such an ancient name, any woman will feel special, close to the Roman emperor, or imagine how she is resting in an Italian resort.
How to get to the terms, opening hours
The Imperator Caracalla Baths are located in the central part of Rome at the address: Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 52. The nearest metro station is CIRCO MASSIMO (line B), bus lines 160, 188, 628, 671, 714 are also nearby.
Tourists who want to visit Rome (Baths of Caracalla) will be very interested in the opening hours of the museum: it always opens at 9:00, but the closing time depends on the time of year. In April-August - until 19.15, in the autumn-winter period - until 16.30 and 17.00, on Mondays it is open until 14.00. The entrance ticket price is 6 euros.
The baths are public baths. They included, in addition to hot, warm and cold baths, also steam rooms, halls for sports and meetings, a library, a small theater, an art gallery, etc. Great attention was paid to the construction of thermal baths in Ancient Rome, since their visit was an integral part life of a decent citizen. Historians not in vain note that the Romans had 3 main ways of spending time: participating in forums, witnessing battles in amphitheaters and visiting thermal baths. The first public baths were built on the Champ de Mars during the reign of Octavian Augustus. Later, the baths were built by the Roman emperors: Nero, Titus, Caracalla.
Baths of Caracalla is the most ambitious and complex complex, consisting of round and square halls, small and large rooms. Gems, colored marble, colorful mosaics, bright fabrics- all this adorned the once famous baths, from which now only ruins remain.
The terms were very popular and revered in ancient world... That is why their construction was very a serious matter... There was even a vault general rules, according to which these terms were to be erected and formalized.
The first baths began to be built in Ancient Rome in the II century BC, but they were most popular during the time of the Roman Empire. It was then that they took on their finished form.
The year of the founding of the Caracalla baths is traditionally considered to be 206 - the time of the reign of Septimius Severus. Construction was completed in 217 already under the emperor Caracalla (after whom these public baths were named).
Caracallus is considered one of the most brutal rulers. His father, dying, bequeathed to his sons to live in harmony. However, immediately after his death, Caracallus killed his brother. The mainstay of his power was the army, which he took under his protection. He pleased the soldiers in every possible way, appointed them a very high salary, generously distributed gifts. In order to somehow appease the townspeople, Caracallus ordered to lay the foundations of the term. Soon the magnificent building of these baths was built.
In ancient Rome, there were 800 small and 5 large centers where citizens who did not have their own pools could go. All of Rome was crossed by giant arcades from different tiers, depending on which terrain they pass. The new baths were supplied from an arcade leading up to the Aventine Hill.
The Baths of Caracalla were truly an architectural wonder. Grandiose and stunning structures combined into a single complex. The walls of the caracalla baths were made of thick concrete, and on top were covered with a thin layer of marble, which gave the impression of unprecedented luxury and fragility. In fact, the baths were very solid construction.
In the middle of the planted various plants the site was located, whose area was more than 10 hectares. Its western side was literally a continuation of the Aventine Hill, and its eastern side was located above the neighboring valley. She held on thanks arched structure about the height of a five-story building. Under the platform there was something that looked like a warehouse, where fuel and water tanks were left.
The central arch represented the entrance to the baths. A path led here, lined with cypresses on all sides. The doors to the main entrance were finished in bronze and surrounded by marble inlay.
Anyone who entered through the main arch immediately entered the hall. Here the slaves received clothes from the visitors. The hall smoothly flowed into a spacious hall in which there were only 3 walls, and where, in theory, there should have been a fourth, a pool began, in the water of which the rays of the sun were reflected, since it was in the open air. The Romans believed that swimming in cold water in a closed room is harmful to health. This pool was named "frigidarium", that is, "cold bath".
In the center of the building was the main hall, where a wide staircase led. It was a very tall building. It was noted that one of them could easily fit here. There were big windows, only instead of glass, thin plates of Ivory... Granite columns that supported the arch. In the main hall there were 2 large niches in which there were statues depicting the exploits of Hercules.
To keep in the hall warm air, all the corridors that led from here were curved. It was possible to walk along them in the caldaria, that is, "hot baths". All caldaria were round in shape. There was a swimming pool in the center, and along its edges there were many hot tubs. It was always hot here because of the constantly maintained dry steam. The visitor could lie down on the marble loungers that ran along the walls. At the request of the client, the slaves, at the first word, were ready to rub it with incense or massage the back.
A dome hung over all the baths, which was perhaps the most unusual part of this institution. Elongated, it seemed to be egg-shaped and was divided into small sections in which there were rosettes, which made it resemble a starry sky. In the middle of the dome there was a small hole through which a column of light descended into the center of the hall.
Alongside the caldarias were small horseshoe-shaped rooms. The temperature was lower here. In these small rooms, the pampered Romans could take a break; many works of art (sculptures, bas-reliefs, mosaics) were located here. These creations were made to order the best masters Rome, and some were brought from others.
Even the floor in the baths was extraordinary - it all consisted of small stones painted in different colors... This mosaic took shape in images of birds, fish, animals, and sometimes absolutely fantastic animals.
After the bath, one could go out into the courtyards. Special pavilions were built here, where they usually gathered to philosophize. There was a library nearby, where books in Latin and Greek were kept.
Behind the baths, stadiums were built where gymnasts trained. On special tribunes it was possible to observe the competitions of athletes, and, if desired, to participate ourselves.
In the 5th century, the baths were still in operation, but in 537 everything came to an end: regular barbarians blocked the aqueducts in order to starve the besieged city with thirst, all the baths were abandoned. People returned here only in the 16th century to carry out excavations. Then Paul III Farnese got himself material for the palace. Two statues of Hercules were brought to the surface, two porphyry baths, one of which was adapted for a fountain in the Piazza Farnese, and the other flaunts in the Vatican Belvedere, and a granite column sent as a gift to the Medici dukes.
Nowadays, without explanatory signs, you cannot tell where the changing room used to be, and where the pool was: now wild cats roam these ruins and birds nest. And once in this complex (337 by 328 meters) 1,600 people could wash at the same time.
Once the ancient sites of the thermal baths served as a platform for the Summer Olympic Games held here. The terms were also adapted for a concert venue. In 1937, the summer grounds of the Roman opera house were equipped in the former thermal baths. On a huge stage (1 800 square meters) staged grandiose performances. The most successful was the staging of Verdi's opera "Aida", when horses, camels and even elephants appeared on the stage.
Since 1995, in order to preserve the ancient monument, performances in the baths have not been held.
For the times of the decline of the great Roman Empire, huge, large-scale structures were characteristic. The baths, built by the Emperor Caracalla on an extraordinary scale for his people, served the Romans as a bath, a sports complex, a library, a concert hall, a place for meetings, amusements and philosophical disputes. Today, the ruins left over from the Baths of Caracalla are not only a testament to the tastes of the civilization of ancient Rome, but also one of the modern venues for spectacular performances of our time.
History
Baths, or baths, were widespread in the Roman Empire. The construction of these baths began in 206, during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus. In 217, after his death, they opened to visitors. At this time, the cruel and despotic emperor Caracalla was in power.
The population of Rome became more and more pampered and demanding, the value of labor fell. To avoid unrest, the emperor regularly made generous donations to the population in the form of bread, gladiatorial fights and other amusements. One of such large-scale "entertainment complexes" for the people of Rome was the grandiose Baths of the Emperor Caracalla.
Back in the 5th century, Thermae was considered one of the wonders of Rome, but already in 537 they suffered significantly from the Goths and subsequently fell into desolation. Christianity, which was strengthening its position in Rome, disdained this temple of pagan pleasures, therefore, for many centuries, the building was not protected by the authorities.
Since the 16th century, Therme has become a subject of interest for archaeologists and historians. Many ancient sculptures were found here, and in 1938, the largest Mithraic temple in Rome was found in the ruins of the thermae.
Features of the architecture
The Baths were an imposing building with an area of about 400 by 400 m. In grandeur, this building is comparable to such buildings as the Colosseum or Hadrian's mausoleum, and is characteristic of this period of Roman history.
The visitor entered the baths through the huge arch of the main entrance, faced with marble and bronze. The slaves took his clothes and he entered a vast room that ended in an outdoor pool the size of a pond.
The walls used Roman concrete. For this, at first, a form of stone and bricks was built into which the composition was poured. Thanks to this technique, the walls became very strong.
From the inside, the walls of the building were faced with marble. A vault soared above the room, supported by columns of such a diameter that one of them could not be grasped by five people holding hands.
The columns only produced the effect of supporting the dome; they could not bear the weight of the vault. In fact, its weight was distributed over the walls, but the architect cleverly hid it. Across round hole steam was leaving the dome. From there, light descended and, like a searchlight, moved across the hall as the sun moved.
Inside the building, in the main room, there were several pools with water different temperatures: warm, medium warm and cool.
The Romans believed that swimming in an indoor pool with cool water was harmful to health. Therefore, such pools were built only outdoors.
In special rooms, visitors could enjoy a massage, sports games, public performances and communication with each other. A separate room was set aside for the library.
The premises were richly decorated with sculptures and other works of art. Particularly impressive were the two statues of Hercules at rest, the statue of Flora, and the famous Farnese bull.
The sculpture was discovered only in 1546 and was restored under the supervision of Michelangelo himself. It is currently housed, along with a number of other attractions in Thermes, in the Archaeological Museum of Naples.
The walls of the room contained large windows, glazed with matte material similar in color to ivory. The walls were decorated with colored mosaics telling about the history of Rome, battles and mythical creatures.
Under the halls there were utility departments, in which the floors and walls of the halls were heated. Double coverings kept the floors from overheating. Thanks to this heating system, a comfortable temperature was constantly maintained in the baths.
Modern look
Nowadays, the once lively Baths look like a cluster of ruins, in which vast halls, passages and columns are barely guessed. From a distance, they look like part of a natural landscape, attracting the eye with their archaism and scope.
Without special explanatory plates or captions for the photo, it is now impossible to find out where these or those rooms were located, and one can only guess well about the original purpose of the monument. knowing history human. Once, this building could accommodate more than 1600 visitors, but now only cats and lizards have become its permanent inhabitants.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a platform for performances of Roman opera appeared here. The stage allowed for large-scale concerts. One of the performances, opera by G. Verdi "Aida" was remembered for the fact that during the performance camels, horses and even elephants appeared on the stage.
In 1995, in order to maintain the safety of the building, the theater was closed. Nowadays, the opera returns to the building of the legendary Baths, using them as an interior for premieres and classical productions.
Among the latest concerts held at this venue: Madame Butterfly, La Boheme, a ballet performance based on the works of Pink Floyd and a performance by Elton John.
Location, opening hours and cost
Address: Viale delle Terme di Caracalla. Roma, Italy.
Working hours: from 09:00 to 18:15, on Monday - until 14:00.
Hours may vary depending on the season. Telephone administration: +39 06 3996 7700
Visit price - 6 euros, and the audio guide - 5 euros.
The Baths of Caracalla is also included in the price of a combined ticket for 3 historical sites at a price of 7.5 euros.
Opera concert prices can fluctuate from 20 to 100 euros... For performances with the participation of stars, the ticket price can reach 250 euros.
How to get there?
You can get there by underground: line B, station Circo Massimo. Fit buses № 118, 160, 628, 671, 714
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