Roman Baths

In ancient Rome, public baths were a big part of daily life. Almost every Roman city had at least one public bathhouse. People went there to get clean, exercise, and spend time with friends. The baths showed off Rome's amazing engineering skills.

Inside a Roman Bath

Roman baths had rooms with different water temperatures. There was a cold room, a warm room, and a hot room. Some baths had swimming pools, gardens, and libraries too. Water was heated by underground fires in a system called a hypocaust.

More Than Just Bathing

Going to the baths was a social activity. People talked about business and politics while relaxing. They exercised, got massages, and ate snacks. Even poor Romans could afford to visit the baths because the entrance fee was very low. The largest baths could hold thousands of people at once.

Fun Facts

• The Baths of Diocletian in Rome could hold up to 3,000 bathers at the same time.
• Romans did not use soap; instead, they rubbed olive oil on their skin and scraped it off.
• The famous Roman Baths in Bath, England, still have hot water flowing through them today.

Did You Know?

The city of Bath in England got its name from the Roman baths that were built there nearly 2,000 years ago.