Egypt and Libya, March 19 - April 2, 2006 / 20060327d_LeptisMagnaBaths
Ruth Milner, rmilner plus web at bookofmarvels dot net
This is the area of the public baths. They
were huge
(artist's
conception) with many pools, some still intact. The Romans loved their baths,
and kept them in hot (calidarium), warm (tepidarium), and cold (frigidarium)
temperatures.
They were of as much importance socially as for hygienic purposes; wealthy
Romans also had baths in their private villas. They were heated by a
hypocaust system, i.e. the floor beneath them was raised, supported on
short stacks of flat stones, and hot air from wood-burning furnaces
circulated through them. Very civilized.
