The Roman baths in Bath
Bath is home to hot mineral springs, hence its name. Legend has it that it has great healing powers. Bladud was the son of the eighth king of the Britons. He contracted leprosy as a young man and was banished from court. He lived as a swine herd in the marshes near the hot springs. His pigs also contracted leprosy (is that even possible?), but they were healed when they wallowed in the mud. Bladud followed suit and was also healed. He returned to court. When he was crowned king in 863 BC, he moved his court to the healing springs and established a city there.
Sulis was a prominent Anglo-Saxon Goddess in the region. When the Romans occupied the land almost a millennia after Bladud, they equated Sulis with their goddess, Minerva. They called the city Aquae Sulis (waters of Sulis) and, because the water had legendary healing properties (thank-you Bladud), the Romans built a temple there for Sulis Minerva. They also built an elaborate public bathing complex around the springs. The Roman facility had three baths: a hot bath, a warm bath, and a cool bath. Additions were made in later years by the English, especially when Bath became a popular resort town.
The Roman baths are all below the modern street level. All the architecture above them was built in later years. For instance, here's one of the first views I had of the springs upon my arrival. The pillars and the level in which I'm standing were built in the Victorian era.
Nineteenth-century statues of Roman emperors and generals surround the baths. That's Bath Abbey in the background. All of the stonework on Bath is from Cotswold stone, which gives it the golden hue.
You can see the poor fellow on the right has lost his face. The statues are highly susceptible to the elements. They are given a special preservative wash every few years in an effort to halt the erosion.
Another view of the bath. I can't say I'd be keen to get into that green water. The spring pumps out water at the rate of 1,700,000 liters each day. There are about four liters to an American gallon. You do the math.
This is the King's Bath. It was built in the 12th Century so the king could enjoy the hot springs in private. Heaven forbid he share water with the common people!
This was the front of the Temple of Sulis Minerva. It was supported on four massive columns that stood nearly fifty feet tall.
This is the altar from the Temple of Sulis Minerva. It was the focus for public worship. The priests would conduct religious ceremonies and animal sacrifices here. The figure on the left is Hercules. On the right is Bacchus, the Roman god of wine.
This is part of the original temple courtyard. That frontis piece I showed you earlier would have loomed over this space.
The other end of the courtyard.
The brick Roman channel for the overflow of their sacred spring.
The Great Bath from the Roman level. The water is 46C. That's about 115F. The air around the water was really hot. It reminded me a bit of Florida. Many of the British visitors hovered around the water, enjoying the wet heat. I couldn't wait to get away from it!
See that fellow sitting by the pillar in the center? I never saw him move from that spot.
Getting a bit artistic.
This is the conduit that ran into the Great Bath.
Here is an example of just how clever the Romans were. They had heated floors! The floor is gone. These were the support pillars for it. Hot air from the springs would flow freely around these pillars and warm the floor from below. Natural steam heat.
Some of the Roman ruins near the West Bath.
Delightful! Thank you for sharing!
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