Ancient & modern
The new baths in Roman Bath may open at some point in the next millennium, but they will bear no relation to the real thing.
Public baths were the Romans’ leisure-and-relaxation centres, built wherever the legions stationed themselves across the empire and offering everyone a taste of what was felt to be the aristocratic life. Emperor, toffs, struggling workers and slaves alike, all naked, took advantage of them, women included (mixed and separate bathing were available, depending on local tastes). The entry fee was minimal.
Romans came there to be olive-oiled up, to work out — physical fitness was an important ‘lifestyle’ priority — and then bathe it all off: first in the sweating room, then the hot bath, the medium and the cold (Marcus Aurelius comments that bathing is all ‘oil, sweat, filth and greasy water’). Romans were then ready for whatever the evening had to offer — for the most popular time to go to the baths was in the afternoon, immediately before dinner. Indeed, the baths were often used as a pre-dinner meeting place for guests.
Luxury baths like those built by the emperor Trajan in Rome (he knew how to keep the people sweet) offered a wide range of other facilities: shops, libraries, barbers, depilation, massage parlours, stalls for food and drink and brothels. The baths could become crowded, noisy and rough, and thieves loitered to see what they could nick. But though all classes used the baths, there was never any question of social levelling or integration: people knew their place and mingled with their own kind (in this respect the baths were exactly like our comprehensive schools). The wealthy, for example, would come surrounded by slaves, be oiled with the finest unguents, be dried with thick woollen towels, drink wine from superb goblets, sport expensive jewellery, bring a range of clothes to choose from and depart wellperfumed. Doubtless they would be deferred to in the general hubbub. The sharp Roman satirical poet Martial constantly mocks those who tried to pretend they were of higher social status than they were, but admits that however much he bathed with his wealthy patrons, it did not make them like him any more.
Gossip, news, business, laughs (and the rest): all Rome was there in microcosm. Not quite what they envisage — my dear! — at Roman Bath.
Peter Jones
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