Name: Xiaoyu Zeng
ARCH161 – M21 LEC(2587)
Baths of Caracalla, Rome
Italy, 212-218A.D.
Ancient Roman, Thermae
Architect: The idea for the baths were drawn up by
Septimius Severus
Introduction:
The Baths of Caracalla were the second largest Roman public baths. It was
in Rome, Italy. This
building is among the most monumental and imposing archeological complexes of
the entire Imperial epoch. The reign of Caracalla donned an age of cruelty
absent from Imperial Rome since perhaps the emperor Domitian or Nero in the
second century. Surviving busts of Caracalla portray a scowling and determined
man capable of great evil. Indeed, he killed his younger brother to secure his
throne. Despite however his personal deficiencies, Caracalla proved to be an
apt administrator.
Since the Baths of Trajan had been constructed three hundred years earlier,
the Thermae Antoninianae (Baths of Caracalla) were the first great public baths.
Begun
in AD 211 (probably by Septimius Severus, who died that year) and dedicated in
AD 216 (Aurelius Victor, XXI), Elagabalus added the peribolus or
enclosed court (Historia Augusta, XVII.8-9) that was completed by
Alexander Severus (Historia Augusta, XXV.6). Aurelius Victor relates
that there were "beautiful fittings" and, indeed, the Belvedere Torso
and mosaics of athletes (Vatican Museums), the massive Farnese Bull and Farnese
Hercules (Museo Nazionale Archeologico, Naples) all were found there. More
prosaically, two large granite basins now serve as fountains in the Piazza
Farnese (Rome). According to Olympiodorus (epitomized by Photius, Bibliotheca,
LXXX), the soaring ruins once had polished marble seats for 1600 bathers.
The baths were in use until the aqueducts that fed them were cut by Genseric
the Vandal in AD 537.
The baths remained in use until the 6th century when the
complex was taken by the Ostrogoths during the Gothic War, at which time the
hydraulic installations were destroyed. It also was free and open to the
public.
Layout:
There
were three main bath chambers: the frigidarium, or cold room; the caldarium, or
hot room; and the tepidarium, or lukewarm room. Between the frigidarium and the
tepidarium was the great hall, roofed by an enormous vault with clerestory
windows, a prototype of the vaulted naves of medieval churches. There were also
large open-air swimming pools. Marble was used lavishly, and sculpture,
mosaics, frescoes, and other decorations ornamented the interior.
Plan:
Section
the chief Hall of the Baths of Caracalla.
Now:
The
Baths of Caracalla are now the site of summertime open-air performances of
ballet and opera, including works that employ spectacularly large casts, such
as Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida and Georges Bizet’s Carmen.
Reference:
1. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baths_of_Caracalla
3. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baths-of-Caracalla
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