“Imagine,” I say, “a place of relaxation and community in the heart of ancient Athens.” We are standing before the Roman Baths by the Zappeion. These baths offer a glimpse into the daily life of people long ago. Let’s step back in time.
The Roman Baths by the Zappeion were not just for hygiene. They were a social hub. These baths, built at the end of the 3rd century AD, were part of a larger complex. This complex included sanctuaries and public buildings. The location was carefully chosen. It was once outside the city walls. The idyllic site had running water and lush vegetation. This made it an important place of worship.
As Athens expanded, the area became part of the inner city. Hadrian’s Gate and the Temple of Olympian Zeus were constructed nearby. This increased the importance of the Roman Baths by the Zappeion.
Picture the scene after the Heruli incursion. The baths were initially constructed then. Later, they were repaired and expanded in the 5th and 6th centuries. The Roman Baths by the Zappeion became a vital part of the city’s infrastructure.
The bathhouse was discovered during excavations for the Athens Metro. The discovery was a lucky one. Construction workers found it during the building of an airshaft. The bathhouse was well preserved. So, the airshaft was moved to protect it. The Roman Baths by the Zappeion were conserved and roofed. In 2003-2004, they were opened to the public.
The Roman Baths by the Zappeion cover 21 meters. They sit between two strong walls. These walls incorporate older architectural elements. The baths extend towards the National Gardens and Amalias Avenue.
Imagine two chambers with hypocausts. These underfloor heating systems kept the baths warm. Two praefurnia or furnace chambers heated the air. Nine reservoirs supplied water.
The caldarium was the hot bath chamber. It featured fifteen cylindrical and rectangular hypocaust columns. Dividing walls added to the structure. To the north was the tepidarium. This warm bath chamber had seventeen marble funerary columns. These columns supported the floor. Vaulted underground passages connected the praefurnia to the caldarium.
Hot air flowed into three small reservoirs. Vertical openings in the walls provided ventilation. They also helped to heat the walls. A large rectangular reservoir supplied water. It had hydraulic mortar and marble plaques. Two marble basins received water from this reservoir.
In the 5th-6th century, changes occurred. The 4th-century hypocaust chambers were repaired. Four more reservoirs with tiled floors were added. One reservoir was built underground. It had a vaulted roof. The north wall had sketches of humans, fish, birds, and crosses. These sketches suggest the space was used as a refuge or martyrion. Terracotta pithoi or storage jars were placed in the floors during the Byzantine period.
Today, the Roman Baths by the Zappeion stand as a testament to ingenuity. They show the importance of communal spaces in ancient times. Take a moment to appreciate the history. Feel the echoes of the past beneath your feet at the Roman Baths.