Frigidarium
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Afrigidariumis one of the three main bath chambers of aRoman bathorthermae,namely the cold room.[1]It often contains a swimming pool.[1]
The succession of bathing activities in thethermaeis not known with certainty, but it is thought that the bather would first go through theapodyterium,where he would undress and store his clothes, and then enter theelaeothesiumorunctuariumto be anointed with oil.[1]After exercising in a special room or court, he would enjoy the hot room, known ascalidariumorcaldarium,then the steam room (a moistsudatoriumor a drylaconicum), where he would most likely scrape the by now grimy oil with the help of a curved metalstrigiloff his skin, before finally moving to thefrigidarium[1]with its small pool of cold water or sometimes with a largeswimming pool(though this, differently from thepiscina natatoria,was usually covered).[citation needed]The water could be also kept cold by using snow.[citation needed]The bather would finish by again anointing his body with oil.[1]
Thefrigidariumwas usually located on the northern side of the baths.[citation needed]The largest examples offrigidariawere both in Rome: that of theBaths of Caracalla,located soon after the entrance, measures 58 x 24 m, and that of theBaths of Diocletian,covered by agroin vault.[citation needed]Some, like one inPompeii,had a circular plan.[2][dubious–discuss][better source needed]
History
[edit]Italy initially had simple baths without tubs, thelavatrinae.[3]IncreasingHellenisationof Italy led to the development of bathing rooms and public baths.[3]Eventually, individual standing hot water tubs were replaced by collective pools and the development ofhypocaustheating.[3]This led to various types of heated rooms, including thecaldarium,tepidarium,laconicumorsudatorium,and thefrigidarium.[3]
Use as Jewishmikvehand/or Christian baptism pool
[edit]There are examples fromHasmoneanandHerodianpalaces inJudaea(e.g.Jericho,Herodium), whereJewishritual immersion poolsormikva'otwere located in thefrigidariaof the private royal bathing facilities.[4]
A Roman octagonal bath-house, c. 14.5 m across, centered around an octagonalfrigidariumpool over 4 m across and with a largebrickconduitfor supplying cold water, probably dated to 330–335 CE during the time ofConstantine the Great,was excavated at Bax Farm,Teynham,Kent.[5]It had been suggested that the octagonalfrigidariumcould have been used forChristianbaptismor as a Jewish ritual immersion pool.[5][6]
See also
[edit]- Ancient Roman bathing
- Palaestra– type of ancient Greek wrestling school with bathing facilities including a room for cold bathing, theloutrón
References
[edit]- ^abcde"thermae/Roman bath".Encyclopædia Britannica.Retrieved9 July2022.
- ^Pompeii: Baths of the Forum,photo by Ren Seindal. Re-accessed 9 July 2022.
- ^abcdBrill's New Pauly.Vol. 2: ARK-CAS. Leiden:Brill Publishers.2002. p. 254.ISBN9004122656.
- ^Bonnie, Rick (2019). Hunter, David G.; van Geest, Paul J. J.; Lietaert Peerbolte, Bert Jan (eds.)."Bath/Mikveh: Archaeological context"(PDF).Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online.Leiden:Brill Publishers.doi:10.1163/2589-7993_EECO_SIM_00000401.hdl:10138/305946.Retrieved9 July2022– viaUniversity of HelsinkiResearch Portal.
- ^abWilkinson, Paul (2011).Summary.Faversham:TheKent Archaeological Field School.p. 4.Retrieved9 July2022.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^Pitts, M.(2006). "Roman pool may be for early Christian baptism".British Archaeology.No. 91.Council for British Archaeology.p. 8.Retrieved 6 October 2006(subscription required)
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