Diocletian baths. The Baths of Diocletian in Rome is a huge complex for water treatments. The history of the creation of the Baths of Diocletian in Rome

Unfortunately, only ruins remain of many ancient sights of the capital of Italy, but even what has survived and been restored amazes tourists with its scale. Baths of Diocletian - this is the name of the ancient Roman baths public baths. This is a whole complex of structures that have never been equal in size and technical equipment in the empire.

The history of the creation of the Baths of Diocletian in Rome

By order of Emperor Diocletian, the construction of baths in " eternal city"began in 298. Seven years later, the complex was completely finished and consecrated in honor of Caesar. The structures were located on a huge territory of 13 hectares and could simultaneously accommodate about three thousand visitors. The Roman Baths of Diocletian included three thousand baths and three large pools, the water of which was supplied from underground aqueducts.

The interior decoration of the complex was no less luxurious:

unique mosaic floors;
marble cladding;
babbling fountains;
statues of gods.

Termi Diocleziano were favorite place rest of the Romans. They performed not only the functions of baths, but also served as cozy place for communication, a hotbed of social and cultural life Rome. Entry was allowed to all free citizens. On the territory of Diocletian's baths, fountains, marble sculptures were built, and gardens with pavilions were laid out. There were also meeting rooms, a library, an amphitheater and a gymnasium.

The legend says that the Baths of Diocletian in Rome were built by Christians condemned to death and the construction of the complex took 10 years. During the Roman Empire, baths were open to men, women and children. The Romans came to the complex to relax, relax, chat with each other or take a walk. More active townspeople visited the Baths of Diocletian to play sports games and engage in wrestling.

The baths had several rooms for various types procedures:

taking cold baths in a cool room (frigidarium);
hot, like modern saunas;
warm, to preheat the body.

In the mid-16th century, the Goths destroyed the Roman aqueduct, and the Baths of Diocletian fell into disrepair. Over time, the complex began to deteriorate, until in 1563, by order of Pontiff Pius IV, the famous Michelangelo transformed the building. The cozy monastery courtyard, designed by the architect, now houses more than 400 exhibits from the times of imperial Rome and many ancient sculptures.

Baths of Diocletian at present

At the end of the 19th century, part of the complex was reconstructed. Currently, this part of the Baths of Diocletian houses the National Museum of Rome. Its archaeological heritage is considered one of the richest in the entire world and consists of finds found in the baths, as well as various collections of Roman and Greek art. On the territory of the baths, Michelangelo harmoniously placed the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built in the Renaissance style.

The Palazzo Altemps, in addition to the Baths of Diocletian, is one of the main objects of the National Museum of Rome. There are 104 sculptures from the ancient era, collections belonging to Cardinals Ludovisi, Altemps and the Princes of Mattei. The palace was built to a design by Melozzo da Forli in the 15th century on the Campus Martius near Piazza Navona.

Another remarkable palace was erected by the architect Camilo Pistrucci in 1883-1887. On the ground floor there is a numismatic collection, on the other three there are antique paintings, sculptures and mosaics. Particularly memorable are the frescoes with painted birds, trees and flowers from the winter triclinium, which previously decorated the villa of Augustus’s wife, Livia. The pride of the national museum is considered to be works from the Villa Farnesina and sarcophagi. “Gal Ludovisi” is also a must-see at the Baths of Diocletian in Rome. This is a marble copy of a large triumphal monument, showing the scene of Gall killing his wife. The sculpture is filled with expression and is made with complete detail of what is happening.

How to get to the Baths of Diocletian

The complex is located on Via Enrico de Nicola (Enrico De Nicola). The most convenient way to get to the Baths of Diocletian is to use the metro. You should get off at one of the stations - Termini or Republic (Repubblica), and then walk a few hundred meters. Another option to get to the ancient Roman baths is to take a bus (there are several routes) to the Cernaia stop.

Tourists can visit the Baths of Diocletian in Rome on any day except Monday. Opening hours from 9.00 to 19.45. Please note that the ticket office closes half an hour before the complex closes. Not far from the ancient Roman baths is the Baroque church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, which will also be attractive to tourists.

The Romans were specialists not only in military affairs and art. Built in the 3rd century AD, the Baths of Diocletian (Terme di Diocleziano) were truly the crowning achievement of engineering at that time. The technical equipment of the baths was far ahead of its time. In terms of convenience and quality of execution, the thermal baths can compete with modern SPA complexes of our time. The baths owe their name to the Roman emperor Gaius Aurelius Diocletian, the same one who, at the end of his reign, abdicated power and retired to small homeland grow cabbage.

The territory allocated for construction was 30 hectares. At the same time, over three thousand people could take water treatments in the baths, for whom individual baths were installed and public steam rooms were equipped. Three large swimming pools have also been built for visitors. Water was supplied to the baths and pools directly through a complex water supply system connected to the branch of the Marcius Aqueduct.

The townspeople (and entry was allowed to all free citizens) not only washed themselves, but also spent time culturally in gardens with sculptures, attended performances in the amphitheater, read books in the library and did physical exercises in the gym.

Unfortunately, by the 7th century, the Baths of Diocletian fell into disrepair and were gradually destroyed. In the mid-16th century, the great sculptor and architect Michelangelo built baths on the remains new term in Renaissance style and monastery.

The healing properties of Therm

Swimming in warm water, rich in mineral salts, has been considered a healing activity since ancient times. Hydrotherapy in thermal springs, according to Hippocrates, had a positive effect on a person’s general physical condition. Roman baths gained particular value due to the supply of water of varying temperatures to the baths. In an amazing way, the water was heated by the sun's rays, while the water in the shaded areas remained cool. Roman doctors noted the special chemical and physical properties of water from springs, which had a beneficial effect on the health of the Romans.

Grandiose Baths today

Today, the Baths of Diocletian are an interesting architectural monument, divided into three parts, surrounded by the gardens of Republic Square.

Part of the territory was given over to the main exhibition of the National Roman Museum, or the Museum of Baths. The museum's exposition includes the walls of the baths themselves, ancient sculptures (including the creations of Michelangelo himself) and other objects from the life of ancient Rome. Another part of the Baths of Diocletian was rebuilt into the Basilica of San Bernardo alle Terme. The remaining buildings were left in ruins. modern tourists, visiting Rome, to study and admire.

Directions and visiting conditions

The baths are located on Enrico De Nicola street (Via Enrico de Nicola) at number 79. The best way to get to the baths and the museum - use the Roman metro. You need to get off at Repubblica or Termini stations, then follow the signs and walk a few hundred meters. Another way to get there: buses No. 82, 61, 62, 60, 492 to the Cernaia stop.

Entrance for foreigners is paid, tickets are sold at the box office. The cost of visiting the thermal baths is 8.5-12 euros, depending on the number of attractions to see. For a maximum cost of 12 euros, tourists get the opportunity to explore the Baths in full over several days. Visits for tourists are allowed on all days except Monday, from 9:00 to 19:45, ticket offices close half an hour before the end of work.

Not far from the baths there is a church built in the Baroque style.

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Baths of Diocletian ( Terme di Diocleziano) were built between 298 and 306, becoming the crowning achievement of the engineering thought of their time, and were a colossal thermal complex with an area of more than 13,000 square meters. meters, the largest ever to exist in Rome. According to legend, their construction was carried out by Christians condemned to death.

The baths occupied the space between, Viminal and. Their size can be assessed by walking around the objects built in their place. This is the basilica, the National Roman Museum, the basilica. Main station Rome, Termini, is also named after the baths of Diocletian.

The thermal baths were located on a fenced artificial platform. They included fountains, pavilions, libraries, and meeting rooms. In the center of the complex were the baths themselves, built according to the standard plan that had become by that time - a central axis with symmetrically located rooms.

1 - Caldarium, 2 - Tepidarium, 3 - Frigidarium, 4 - Pool, 5 - Palaestra, 6 - Main Entrance, 7 - Exedra

The simple facades of the baths, covered with marbled plaster, were enlivened by sparse mosaic panels at the entrances. Such simplicity of decorative decoration and a gradual increase in volume towards the central hall emphasized the grandeur of the complex and distinguished it from places of worship. The absence of curvilinear rooms, and therefore a variety of interior shapes, is the influence of the East.

The Baths of Diocletian accommodated more than 3,000 visitors at a time. There were 3,000 individual baths and three pools with the purest water. Cold baths were located in the frigidarium, warm baths in the tepidarium, and hot baths in the caldarium. The hottest room - the lakonik - was used mainly by the sick. The heat was generated by a fire under the floor maintained by slaves. Solar heat was also used to heat the water. Water came through a branch from the Aqueduct of Marcius.

The baths were open to all residents, including women and children, and were completely affordable. But even a modest entrance fee was often covered by the generosity of the emperor or some rich person, who took upon himself the cost of visiting the baths for citizens for a period of from one day to a year.

Visitors came to the thermal baths not only to wash themselves. All kinds of entertainment, feasts and other events were held within their walls. Here, for example, there was a library in which philosophical debates took place, and in the gymnasiums one could practice sports and physical exercises. In addition, here you could simply get warmth in winter and coolness in summer.

The complex functioned until the 6th century and began to fall into disrepair and collapse with the arrival of the Goths, who blocked the aqueducts to deprive the Romans of water. And only in the 16th century, under the leadership of the great 87-year-old sculptor and architect Michelangelo, a basilica was built on the ruins of the tepidarium, preserving its walls Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri,named after the Christian martyrs who died during the construction of the baths.

Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri

A number of rooms in the baths became part of the museum, and one of the round lobbies was transformed into another basilica -San Bernardo alle Terme.The remains of another such vestibule can be seen between Via Viminale and Piazza dei Cinquecento.

Basilica of San Bernardo alle Terme

The decision to create the National Roman Museum was made in 1889. Its section in the Baths of Diocletian was designed to introduce the beginning of Roman history.The museum's exposition includes the walls of the baths themselves, ancient sculptures, household items, weapons of the ancient Romans, Etruscans and other peoples who inhabited the Apennine Peninsula. The rarest exhibits are the sarcophagi of ancient and Christian Rome. An extensive epigraphic section demonstrates the emergence and development of the Latin language in various media during the 8th century BC. - 4th century AD

The ruins of ancient Roman baths - the Baths of Diocletian - were erected in the distant years 298-305 AD. In modern Rome, these ancient baths belong to. In addition to the baths, the museum includes three more objects, located separately: , Balbi crypt and.

History of the Baths of Diocletian

The Roman emperor Gaius Diocletian wanted to build the largest baths, which no others could compare with. This is how the baths appeared total area which, together with the gardens, occupied about 13 hectares.

Since 537, after the destruction of the aqueduct by the Ostrogothic king Vitiges, the baths no longer functioned as intended.

In 1563, on behalf of Emperor Pius IV, Michelangelo carried out a large-scale reconstruction of the Diocletian Baths. So the caldarium term was reincarnated into a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, angels and martyrs. The building of the Carthusian monastery was built. Thanks to such diligent reconstruction, these ancient Roman baths have survived to this day much better than others.

The Baths of Diocletian could simultaneously accommodate up to 3 thousand people. Very extensive gardens were decorated with fountains and pavilions. On the territory there were halls for holding meetings and sports exercises, and there was a library.

Museum at the Baths of Diocletian

Since 1889, the baths have housed a collection of Roman and Greek art. Overall, there is a lot to see and admire.

In the Baths Museum you will see not only Michelangelo’s masterpieces brought to life in the church and monastery, but also ancient statues, sarcophagi, reliefs, altars, tombs and much more.

How to get there

The Baths of Diocletian in Rome are located next to the Republic Square. Opposite Rome's main train station, Termini.

Working hours: The thermal baths museum can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 19:30. The ticket price is 7 euros. Persons from 18 to 25 years old – 3.5 euros. On the first Sunday of every month, admission is free for visitors under 18 years of age. The ticket price includes visits to other sites National Museum Rome. The ticket is valid for 3 days.

Baths of Diocletian

The Baths gave their name to Diocletian's windows

Baths of Diocletian- ruins of ancient Roman baths near the modern Republic Square in Rome.

Construction of the thermal baths began in the year. In the year they were consecrated in honor of Diocletian. Baths with an area of more than 13 hectares. built according to a plan similar to the baths of Caracalla and Trajan. The buildings could accommodate up to 3 thousand people, the gardens were decorated with fountains and pavilions, and there was also a library and halls for meetings and sports exercises on the territory.

The Baths of Diocletian in its modern form is the Republic Square (gardens), on the site of the central hall the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri was erected, some rooms are occupied by the National Roman Museum ( Museo Nazionale Romano, c.) with a collection of Roman and Greek art, one of the round halls was rebuilt into the Church of San Bernardo alle Terme, part of another hall is located between Viminale and Piazza dei Cinquecento.

Literature

Heinz-Joachim Fischer: Rom. Zweieinhalb Jahrtausende Geschichte, Kunst und Kultur der Ewigen Stadt. DuMont Buchverlag, Köln 2001, ISBN 3-7701-5607-2.

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