The dilapidated old building, located on the territory of the capital of Italy, was once called the eighth wonder of the world. A man-made historical monument and now testifies to the greatness of the ancient empire, turning into the stage of the world-famous Roman Opera.
The Baths of Caracalla: history
Before starting a conversation about one of the main attractions of the Eternal City, it is necessary to explain what thermae are. The inhabitants of Ancient Rome, who lived before our era, experienced colossal problems associated with water. Therefore, officials often faced the question of building aqueducts that would deliver life-giving moisture to the city. Each new fountain or water supply became a real event of that time.
Gradually, the first baths began to appear, access to which was exclusively for the rich and noble Romans. We can say that bathing in the terms played an important role in public life, it became a kind of informal communication for those in power. Well-known citizens did not just bathe, but discussed issues of concern to everyone. Baths offered notonly body washing services, they also included a whole cultural complex: gyms, libraries, rooms for theatrical performances. So the process of bathing turned into a special aesthetic pleasure.
Complex for bathing and entertainment
Naturally, there were not enough baths for everyone, and in the 3rd century AD, the emperor Caracalla was puzzled by this issue. The baths, built on the territory of Rome at his behest, were a huge bath complex, which had no equal. The construction of a colossal scale, accommodating 1,500 people, was built for 11 long years. Erected in a prestigious area of Rome, the monumental landmark included several bathing and relaxing rooms.
The chronicler Spartian wrote that Emperor Caracalla left behind an unusual complex the size of an entire city. The baths really surprised the whole world with their size and rich decoration. High walls were built of pebbles and sand, cement was poured between the stones, and the facade was decorated with marble slabs - this created the effect of visual fragility of a beautiful building with an amazing internal fortress of the complex as a whole.
Building architecture
Occupying an area of 11 hectares, the baths of the Emperor Caracalla were a giant building with an amazingly beautiful frame. From all sides it was surrounded by a picturesque park with huge columns. A large number of rooms within the complex were built symmetrically, and all the corridors were designed in a special, curved way to prevent exit.heat.
On one side there was an amphitheater in which various competitions were held, on the other there were libraries built specifically for bored Romans. So ordered the emperor Caracalla. The baths also included 64 rooms with huge cisterns, which were supplied with clean water from mountain springs through the aqueduct. And after bathing, the Romans went outside the territory of the baths and rested in the park area in cool pavilions in the fresh air.
The structure of the term complex
A wonderful cypress alley led to the entrance to the bath complex. The main building, which served as a bathing place, was divided into several rooms.
The main hall, illuminated with golden soft light due to the transparent beige plates inserted into the windows, surprised with the incredible height of the vault, in which the marble walls striving upward seemed to dissolve. And through the hole in the dome of the building, daylight got inside. The luxury of decoration was simply amazing: the hall was decorated with numerous sculptures, and the floor was paved with multi-colored mosaics depicting scenes on mythological themes.
The hot bath (caldarium) was a rotunda with relaxation rooms after water procedures. Small niches were arranged around the entire perimeter, in which one could wash alone, a kind of prototype for bathrooms.
The warm bath (tepidarium) surprised with the mosaic floor, on which the figurines of Roman athletes were laid out. And to the right and left of the building were gymnastics halls.
The cold bath (frigidarium) allowed hot Romans to cool off in a huge pool.
Prohibition of hygiene procedures
Well-made thermal baths were considered a unique structure, but after the fall of the great Roman Empire, the thermal baths built during the reign of an emperor named Caracalla fell into disrepair. Researchers believe that Christianity played a major role in forgetting hygiene procedures with sermons about the insignificance of the body and the greatness of the soul. It was believed that moisture washes away the holy water in which a person was dipped at baptism, and church ministers recognized bathing in a bath as a sin, interfering with spiritual development, and all thermae buildings were considered as pagan.
The preachers who pacified their flesh did not bathe, in all monasteries bathrooms became a sign of special effeminacy, which has no place in a spiritual institution. Dirt was revered as one of the Christian virtues, and now there are even shocking stories about found lice, which are unequivocally recognized as a sign of holiness, shocking modern man. The result was various epidemics that raged in the Middle Ages in Europe and claimed the lives of millions of people.
World Famous Landmark
In the 16th century, archaeological excavations began to be carried out on the site of the ruins of the once majestic bath complexes in order to decorate the Pope's palace with building material left over from the term. And when amazing works of art were discovered, this place was given the status of a local cultural monument.
Only at the end of the 19th century, the baths of Caracalla, photos of the ruins of which are taken as a souvenir by tourists admiring the former grandeur of Rome, become a recognized Italian landmark. The huge ruins are open daily to the public, and in our time they have generally become the stage of the opera house. The former warm bathhouse has been converted into a huge hall designed for almost 20,000 spectators. The opera season, which started in 1937, continues to this day, and the most famous event was the performance of three internationally recognized tenors - Domingo, Carreras and Pavarotti - at the Baths of Rome.
Reconstruction by a Russian artist
In the middle of the 19th century, Sergei Ivanov was sent to Rome from Russia to restore the architectural appearance of the monumental structure. The hard-working young man was not even afraid of the outbreak of the revolution, and he continued his work, regardless of the circumstances. Soon, Ivanov's work, who studied the terms of Caracalla in detail, was published in Italian. The reconstruction, presented by the Russian artist, consisted of 43 drawings showing the central part of the building, as well as the rooms in the section.
He not only meticulously reproduced all the decorations of the grandiose complex, but also indicated rooms with warm and cold water, changing rooms, gyms and other parts of the main building. The work of the Russian scientist is invaluable for all researchers of ancient ruins, it testifies to the luxury of the gigantic imperial structure.
The Baths of Caracalla: how to get there?
Drive to the Opera House, locatednow on the site of the bath complex, you can take the metro or shuttle bus. The address of the term, located in the center of the capital of Italy, is as follows: Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 52. The entrance to the ruins is a few euros, but you will have to fork out for a visit to the opera, because the cost will depend on the status of the performer. But the magnitude of the extraordinary beauty of the spectacle taking place under the open sky at night is really worth it.
The ancient building, despite its ruined state, arouses the sincere interest of foreign tourists who admire the heritage of Ancient Rome. Erected during the time of the emperor with the sonorous name of Caracalla, the terms amaze with the grandeur and scale of everyone who touched a piece of architectural wonder.
