Understanding how the people of Rome built the Baths of Caracalla, one of the largest buildings in Rome, sheds light on to how many other buildings were constructed as well. DeLaine provides some impressive research into the analysis of the building’s architecture. Her findings have answered questions that previous scholars have long tried to answer, such as how long it took to build the foundation and how long the concrete took to dry, questions about transporting material and labor, as well as the overall cost of the building project. The answers to these questions, though specific to the Baths of Caracalla, provide some insight into the incredible effort Romans put in to the overall architecture and archaeology of Ancient Rome (DeLaine, 1997). The Baths of Caracalla were known as thermae, as they were public, had many facilities, and were constructed by Emperor Caracalla (Aldrete, 2008). The Baths of Caracalla are among the most architecturally refined and impressive buildings in Ancient Rome (Beard, 2010).
Aldrete explains that the baths were an important part of Roman life. He interprets that the baths were closely related to the idea of romanization, and everywhere the Romans went, baths were built. The Romans built baths nearly everywhere they conquered, which is why they can be found on the edges of the empire as well as in Rome itself. One bath was even found in a province of Britain. Romanization resulted in conquering other societies and the people there were deemed “barbarians”, so the Romans viewed adding baths to these conquered areas would bring these people “exposure to… cultured luxuries” (Aldrete, 2008, p. 108).
Baths, in general, were used for far more than bathing. The buildings offered exercise facilities, libraries to educate oneself in, socialization, food, places to relax, space to manage business relations, and sexual activity (Aldrete, 2008). The Baths of Caracalla provided Romans with a safe space to conduct business agreements and was a very personal way to connect with clients or other businessmen. The baths also served as a place for politically influential people to commingle with the people of Rome, though this happened less frequently since many politically powerful people (like emperors) had their own private baths (Aldrete, 2008).
Aldrete notes that the large, public baths, such as the Baths of Caracalla, were often free of charge. Next to the bathhouse, Aldrete notes that there were athletic tracks and facilities, libraries, game rooms, massage rooms, salons, restaurants, and even a museum of sorts. The amount that these baths offered it’s patrons coupled with the fact that they were open everyday means that Romans most likely spent a lot of their time there (Aldrete, 2008). These baths were open to everyone, even some slaves working as “scrapers” for their masters. The baths are described as “social levellers”, where, even more than at entertainment venues, the inequalities of Ancient Roman inhabitants were apparent. This social leveling gains even more importance when one considers that nearly all of the bath’s participants were fully or partially naked. It is in this vulnerable, literally stripped down state, that Romans could be seen in their simplest form without the distinctions that togas and other clothing would provide them outside of the baths. An interesting point of contention in Roman society was that nudity and sexuality had strict guidelines and moral grounds behind them. Even though bathing was deemed a healthy thing to do, because Romans had strong beliefs regarding sex and sexuality, participating in bathing practices in public baths was considered by some to be “a morally corrupting habit”. (Beard, 2010, p. 241-242).
The architectural construction and the interpretation of the Baths of Caracalla speak volumes on the overall history of Rome. From baths being a statement of romanization to the social interactions they invited, to the business conducted while visiting, the Baths of Caracalla represent some of what Romans valued in their society.