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The Roman Baths in Bath, England, is a well-preserved public bathing complex built around 70 CE on natural geothermal springs. The bathing process involved moving through rooms of different temperatures: starting in the warm tepidarium, then progressing to hotter caldarium baths, followed by a cold plunge frigidarium, and often ending in the warm, steamy Great Bath. These baths served as a social and healing center and were dedicated to the Celtic goddess Sulis, whom the Romans identified with Minerva. The complex functioned until the 4th or 5th century and remains a major historic and tourist site today, though bathing in the waters has been prohibited since 1978 due to health risks.

 

Interesting facts....

The hypocaust heating system heated floors and walls, making the hottest rooms intensely warm where wooden sandals were worn to protect feet.

A life-size statue of Sulis Minerva in the temple’s inner sanctum was only seen by priests. Rituals included sacrifices, and priests sometimes wore masks possibly to conceal their identities during ceremonies. One of these masks have been found stuck in a drainage system.

Architectural Illustration: The Roman Baths. Bath.

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