History of Sanitation

Synopsis OF Chapter. Origin of Bathing—Early Greek Baths—Roman Private Baths—Public Baths of Rome—Ruins of Baths of Caracalla—Description of the Thermæ—The Thermæ of Titus at Rome-Baths of Pompeii Heating Water for Roman Baths—Thermæ of Titus Restored. THE value of bathing for pleasure, cleanliness and health was early realized by the ancients, who in many cases made the daily bath part of their religious ritual, with the hope of thus inducing a practice that would, from constant observance, become a habit not easy to over- come, and which would be a lasting benefit to the health of the individual and a safeguard to the community. It perhaps was among the Greeks that bath tubs were first introduced. The early Greek bathing vessels (see preceding wood- cuts) were made of polished marble, shaped something like a punch bowl, stood about 30 inches high, and were not occupied by the bather as in a modern bath Mosaic from the Floor of the Baths of Caracalla 37