Very few Ancient Romans, apart from the rich, had baths in their own houses. Even so, the bath was usually a primitive washroom located near the kitchen so as to get hot water conveniently. However, most Romans liked to visit public bath houses (thermae) at least once daily. They went there not only to bathe, but also to exercise, relax and socialise, just like modern day health spas.
Roman men and women visited the bath houses at different times. Women often went in the morning while men usually went after work. The routine started with putting oil on the bodies, and men would then exercise. After that, they would use a tool called strigil, a piece of curved metal implement, to scrape off the dirt and oil from their bodies and then started bathing.
Roman men and women visited the bath houses at different times. Women often went in the morning while men usually went after work. The routine started with putting oil on the bodies, and men would then exercise. After that, they would use a tool called strigil, a piece of curved metal implement, to scrape off the dirt and oil from their bodies and then started bathing.
The Romans usually began their bath in a hot pool (caldarium) and then a warm pool (tepidarium) and finish off in a cold pool (frigidarium). After the bath, the Romans would then relax using other facilities in the bath house including the saunas and haircutting salons. They could also take a walk in the gardens, read in the libraries, browse at the stores or eat at the snack bar. Children and slaves were not allowed to go to the bath houses. The admission fee to bath houses were cheap and some rich Romans may bring their slaves to attend to them. There were as many as 900 public bath houses in Ancient Rome and they could hold from 300 to 1500 people