Public Baths and Bathing Habits in Late Antiquity : A Study of the Evidence From Italy, North Africa and Palestine A.D. 285-700

"In this book Sadi Marâechal 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."-- Foreword Illustrations Abbreviations Key to the General Plans Introduction Why Baths Again? General Aims and Outline of the Research Geographical Framework Chronological Framework Methodology and Sources Baths and Bathing Approached from Different Angles Evidence of Baths and Bathing The Structure of the Book Notes on Terminology Geographical Terminology and Place Names Chronological Terminology Cultural and Religious Terminology Personal Names Bath-Related Terminology Notes on Abbreviations Chapter 1 General Introduction to Roman Baths and Earlier Research on Late Antique Baths General Introduction to Roman Baths andBathing Habits Pre-Roman Origins of Public Bathing Italic Bathing Habits Early Roman Bathhouse Imperial Period Bathhouse The Bathing Itinerary Modern Typologies of the Plans Technology of the Baths Hypocaust Wall Heating The Functioning of the Heating System Water Management of Baths Water Supply Waste Water Disposal Decoration Popularity of Bathhouses Earlier Research on Late Antique Baths Late Antique Baths in General Works on Roman Bathsand Bathing Late Antique Baths in Regional Studies Specific Studies on Late Antique Baths Chapter 2 Written Evidence of Baths Late Antique Literature Methodology and Approach 4th c. Latin Authors 4th c. Greek Authors 5th c. Latin Authors 5th c. Greek Authors 5th c. Syriac Literature 6th c. Latin Authors 6th c. Greek Authors 6th c. Syriac Authors 7th c. Authors Summarizing the Literary Attestations of Baths and Bathing Habits Hammams in Early Medieval Arabic Literature Legal Documents Codex Theodosianus Corpus Iuris Civilis Ecumenical Councils and Synods Summarizing the Legal Documents Epigraphic Evidence Methodological Problems and Approaches Inscriptions of the Italian Peninsula Inscriptions of North Africa Inscriptions of Cyrenaica Inscriptions of Palestina Summarizing the Epigraphic Evidence Papyrological Evidence Introduction Papyri Summarizing the Papyrological Evidence Chapter 3 Archaeological Evidence Introduction Rome Concise History of the Urban Fabric Newly Built Late Antique Baths Continued Use and Abandonment of Existing Baths Private Baths Baths on the Forma Urbis Roma The Evidence for Baths in the Written Sources Baths in the Late Antique Urban Context Ostia Concise History of the Urban Fabric Newly Built Late Antique Baths Continued Use and Abandonment of Existing Baths Private Baths Baths on the Isola Sacra Baths in the Late Antique Urban Context Cuicul Concise History of the Urban Fabric Newly Built Late Antique Baths Continued Use and Abandonment of Existing Baths Baths in the Late Antique Urban Context Thamugadi Concise History of the Urban Fabric Newly Built Late Antique Baths Continued Use and Abandonment of Existing Baths Baths in the Late Antique Urban Context Carthage Concise History of the Urban Fabric Newly Built Late Antique Baths Continued Use or Abandonment of Existing Baths Baths in the Late Antique Urban Context Sufetula Concise History of the Urban Fabric Newly Built Late Antique Baths Continued Use and Abandonment of Existing Baths Baths in the Late Antique Urban Context Ptolemais Concise History of the Urban Fabric Newly Built Late Antique Baths Continued Use and Abandonment of Existing Baths Private Baths Baths in the Late Antique Urban Context Scythopolis Concise History of the Urban Fabric Newly Built Late Antique Baths Continued Use and Abandonment of Existing Baths Baths in the Late Antique Urban Context Archaeological Evidence of Early Hammams North Africa and Cyrenaica Egypt Palestina The Larger Middle Eastern Context Summarizing the Archaeological Evidence of EarlyHammams Chapter 4 Continuity and Change in Late Antique Public Baths and Bathing Habits Architecture Plans of the Baths Size of the Baths Rooms of the Baths Construction Techniques and Building Materials Decoration Bath Technology Hypocaust Wall Heating Furnaces Water Supply Waste Water Disposal Public Baths and Their Contexts Urban Contexts Non-Urban Contexts Secondary Use of Baths Privatisation of the Bathing Habit? The Church and the Baths Decay or Continuity of Baths and Bathing Habits Continuity in the 4th c. Strong Regional Trends in the 5th c. Difficulties in the 6th c. Towards Medieval and Islamic Baths in the 7th c. A Habit in Decline? Epilogue—The Transition to the Hammams General Concluding Remarks and Prospects for Future Research Appendix 1 Late Antique Inscriptions Mentioning Baths Inscriptions from the Italian Peninsula Inscriptions from North Africa Inscriptions from Palestina Appendix 2 Late Antique Papyri Mentioning Baths appendix 3Lists of Late Antique Baths, Possible Baths and Continued Use of Baths Gazetteer Introduction Baths in the Italian Peninsula, Sicily and Sardinia New Construction Possible Late Antique Baths Villa Baths with a Possible Public Use Continued Use and Abandonment of Imperial PeriodBaths during Late Antiquity Baths in Roman North Africa New Construction Possible Late Antique Baths Villa Baths with a Possible Public Use Other Private Baths with Possible Public Access Ecclesiastical Baths Fortress Baths Continued Use and Abandonment of Imperial Period Baths during Late Antiquity Baths in Cyrenaica New Construction Possible Late Antique Baths Fortress Baths Continued Use and Abandonment of Imperial Period Baths during Late Antiquity Baths in Egypt New Construction Possible Late Antique Baths Other Private Baths with a Possible Public Use Ecclesiastical Baths Fortress Baths Continued Use and Abandonment of Imperial Period Baths during Late Antiquity Baths in Palestina New Construction Possible Late Antique Baths Private Baths Ecclesiastical Baths Fortress Baths Continued Use and Abandonment of Imperial Period Baths during Late Antiquity Glossary Bibliography Primary Sources Modern Sources Indices Ancient Sources Themes People Places "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."-- Provided by publisher