The names of sections of the Roman baths are derived from the adjectives caldus, tepidus and frīgidus. Upon entering the baths, the Romans would store their clothes in the apodytērium and then move through a sequence of rooms.
[1] caldārium, -ī [2/n]:
from caldus, -a, -um, the caldarium was a room with hot water
supplied, and with a hypocaust, an underfloor heating system.
[2] tepidārium, -ī [2/n]:
From tepidus, -a, -um, this was the warm bathroom between the hot
caldarium and the cold frigidarium with a lukewarm bath of water (labrum)
lessening the shock of moving from one extreme temperature to the other.
[3] frīgidārium, -ī [2/n]:
from frīgidus, -a, -um, the frigidarium contained a large pool of
cold water for cooling off after the heat of the caldarium and tepidarium.
Image #1: Apodytērium (from
Ancient Greek"undressing room") was the main entry into the thermae
(public baths), and comprised a large changing room with cubicles or shelves
where where clothing and other belongings could be stored while bathing.
The image shows the
apodyterium of the women’s changing room at Herculaneum. Note the shelving used
for storing clothes and belongings.
Image #2: caldārium; from
the Roman baths at Bath, England. The floor was removed to show the hypocaust
system beneath
Image #3: bronze brazier and
bench where bathers would have sat to perspire; south end of the tepidarium,
Pompeii
Image #4: tepidārium of the
men’s baths, Pompeii
Image #5: frīgidārium,
Pompeii
Image #6: frīgidārium, Bath,
England
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