Posted at Mar 26/2006 03:37PM:
Sebastian De Vivo: Victoria, your project -- to look both at the Roman baths and its incarnation today -- is very well-researched and clearly laid-out. You identified your question at the start (in your title!) and then proceeded to tell us many fascinating anecdotes about Roman baths and their equivalents today. I especially enjoyed your discussion in section 6. You used great images to illustrate your arguments, and presented a clear timeline. I would've like to see a bit more of the issues raised in lecture, but can see how these drove your analysis and argument. This is a very well-researched and fascinating project -- great job!

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The Influence of Roman Baths on Today's Society

Please view my project proposal here: Victoria Harman.

All questions to: vharman@stanford.edu

Fig. 1

Photo taken by me. To see more of my photos, visit: Bath Photos.

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Fig 2. Roman Bath Complex.

1. The Basic Structure of a Roman Bath:

Palaestra//Apodyterium//Tepidarium//Caldarium//Frigidarium

Note: Not all of these structures were found in Bath, UK, because of its unique structure. Nevertheless, they are typical of baths throughout the Roman Empire (Caracalla had all of them). As for the colonies, most of these structures existed in the small bath at the villa of Cosgrove in the UK so it is clear that they form the common Roman layout.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.RomanBaths.co.uk

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Fig 3. Virgo Aqueduct

2. Ancient Technology:

Hypocaust//Aqueduct//Sacred Spring at Bath//Building Materials

Roman engineers invented many of the same systems we use today. Perhaps that's why many historians agree that the baths are "the most technologically advanced buildings of the ancient world".

Photo courtesy of: http://academic.bowdoin.edu/classics/research/moyer/index.shtml

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Fig. 4 Roman performers

3. Performance And Meeting Spaces

Meeting Place

Photo courtesy of: http://www.vroma.org

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Fig 5. Gorgon's Head (Bath, UK)

4. Art and Architecture:

Neoclassical Style

Photo courtesy of: http://www.athenapub.com/britbath.htm

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Fig 6. Roman food mosaic

5. Food and Sales:

Food at the Baths

Photo courtesy of: http://www.vroma.org

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Fig 7. Roman women

6. Roman Empirical Culture:

Social Hierarchy

Photo courtesy of: http://www.poster.net/oberhausen/obe2501.jpg

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7. Ruins:

Roman Bath Ruins Today

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8. A Direct Comparison:

Analysis of Equinox Services//A Day At The Baths//A Day At "The Baths"

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Roman Baths Bibliography

Please look at my many sources for further reading.

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My Page: Victoria Harman

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Course Page: Ten things - science, technology and design