Public Baths and Bathing Habits in Late Antiquity

A Study of the Evidence from Italy, North Africa and Palestine A.D. 285-700
Erscheinungsjahr 2020
ISBN: 978-90-04-41872-1
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 6, 504 Seiten, Format (B × H): 208 mm x 295 mm, Gewicht: 1262 g

Reihe: Late Antique Archaeology (Supplementary Series)

In this book Sadi Maréchal examines the survival, transformation and eventual decline of Roman public baths and bathing habits in Italy, North Africa and Palestine during Late Antiquity. Through the analysis of archaeological remains, ancient literature, inscriptions and papyri, the continued importance of bathhouses as social hubs within the urban fabric is demonstrated, thus radically altering common misconceptions of their decline through the rise of Christianity and elite seclusion. Persistent ideas about health and hygiene, as well as perpetuating ideas of civic self-esteem, drove people to build, restore and praise these focal points of daily life when other classical buildings were left to crumble.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Maréchal, Sadi

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Kultur- und Ideengeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Kunst Kunstgeschichte Kunstgeschichte: Klassisch (Griechisch & Römisch)
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Alte Geschichte & Archäologie Geschichte der klassischen Antike Klassische Archäologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Mentalitäts- und Sozialgeschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Foreword

List of Illustrations

Abbreviations

Introduction

Why Baths Again?

General Aims and Outline of the Research

Geographical Framework

Chronological Framework

Methodology and Sources

The Structure of the Book

Notes on Terminology

Notes on Abbreviations

1 General Introduction to Roman Baths and Earlier Research on Late Antique Baths

General Introduction to Roman Baths and Bathing Habits

Technology of the Baths

The Functioning of the Heating System

Water Management of Baths

Decoration

Popularity of Bathhouses

Earlier Research on Late Antique Baths

2 Written Evidence of Baths

Late Antique Literature

Legal Documents

Epigraphic Evidence

Papyrological Evidence

3 Archaeological Evidence

Introduction

Rome

Ostia

Cuicul

Thamugadi

Carthage

Sufetula

Ptolemais

Scythopolis

Archaeological Evidence of Early Hammams

4 Continuity and Change in Late Antique Public Baths and Bathing Habits

Architecture

Bath Technology

Public Baths and Their Contexts

Decay or Continuity of Baths and Bathing Habits

Epilogue—The Transition to the Hammams

General Concluding Remarks and Prospects for Future Research

Appendix 1: Late Antique Inscriptions Mentioning Baths

Introduction

Inscriptions from the Italian Peninsula

Inscriptions from North Africa

Inscriptions from Palestina

Appendix 2: Late Antique Papyri Mentioning Baths

Appendix 3: Lists of Late Antique Baths, Possible Baths and Continued Use of Baths

Glossary

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Modern Sources

Gazetteer

Introduction

Key to the General Plans

Baths in the Italian Peninsula, Sicily and Sardinia

Baths in Roman North Africa

New Construction

Baths in Cyrenaica

Baths in Egypt

Ecclesiastical Baths

Fortress Baths

Baths in Palestina

Index

Late Antique Archaeology

Über Autor(innen)

Sadi Maréchal, Ph.D. (2016), Ghent University, is post-doctoral researcher in Roman archaeology of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). He has published articles and book chapters on baths and bathing habits in the Roman Empire.