A recent archaeological discovery in Italy reveals a monumental bath that provides insight into the architecture of the Roman Empire. It is located at a site that allows for a unique conclusion about its history.
Recent Archaeological Discovery: Rome also had open-air baths
A recent archaeological discovery in southern Italy has uncovered the ruins of an ancient Roman bathing complex. Situated at the heart of an excavation site, this complex allowed Romans to bathe comfortably during both summer and winter. The complex was probably built around 250 BCE to improve the quality of life in the city of Gabii. What’s impressive is not just the size of the bath, which clearly overshadows comparable known structures.
At the same time, it is also particularly old. The Roman Empire only gained full control over the city in the first century BC. Therefore, it was probably not the inhabitants of the city of Rome who built the complex. Instead, researchers suspect, according to the University of Missouri, that the Gabine tribe tried to model their city after the Roman example.
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It Wasn’t Just for Bathing
The archaeological find was probably not only used for washing or relaxing. It was also a ritual site, comparable in its central function to a kind of temple. Since small figurines and devotional objects were also discovered at the site, the city’s inhabitants probably also used the bath as a way to communicate with their gods.
According to Marcello Mogetta, the lead scientist, the discovery provides an “invaluable window,” especially into the history of the early Roman Empire. Very little is known about its culture and daily life, as sources from this period are rather scarce. Additionally, writings are often difficult to separate from myths. This also shows the advantage of the recent archaeological discovery – there can be no doubt about its purpose.
Source: University of Missouri
This article was originally published on futurezone.de / 4P.de and has been carefully translated.