Pompeii(d)

Pompeii ( 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 )

Public Buildings (continued)

Stabian Baths

These baths take their name from the fact that they lie at the intersection of the Via Stabiana and the Via dell'Abbondanza. They are the oldest baths in Pompeii being first built around the 4th century BC and restored and enlarged several times thereafter (the last time being after the earthquake of 62AD.

Palaestra Facilities


		C
							6
																					C
						5
										14
							4
	A
															15
																16
											18
					3
														17
																				13
								Sports Field
				2
																	12
																			11
												10
A
			1
																		9
													7
											8
									B

A. Private Entrance. B. Main Entrance

1. Wash basins.
2. Swimming pool.
3. Apodyterium.

4. Service area.
5. Single baths.
6. Latrines.

Men's Baths

7. Entrance.
8. Waiting room.
9. Apodyterium.

10. Frigidarium.
11. Tepidarium.
12. Caldarium.

Facilities

13. General facilities and furnaces.

Women's Baths

C. Entrances to women's section.

17. Laconicum.
18. Ambulatory.

14. Apodyterium.
15. Tepidarium.
16. Caldarium.

The baths complex centres on a large trapezoidal peristyle illustrated opposite.

The eastern part was taken up by the men's (coloured blue) and women's (coloured green) baths with the furnace room between. This room had three large boilers (one for warm, one for hot and one for very hot water).

The most important innovation during the Imperial age was the gymnasium facilities. Here swimming could be alternated with athletic exercise and various sports.

The swimming pool itself measures 13 x 8 metres and was 1.5m deep.

The large pool is flanked by two room where clients washed before entering the pool, and by a dressing

room. These rooms are decorated with polychrome stuccoes that can be dated to the years after the earthquake of 62 AD.