The Torch Winter Edition
Washrooms in Pompeii
BY ELLA CHI
PARLIMENTARIAN
This ancient city buried by ash and lava in 70 AD continues to unveil the mysterious past , as the Pompeiian excavations continue .
Recently , a new private bathhouse was discovered in this ancient city of ruins . Bathhouses were extremely important to Roman culture : old , young , rich , and poor would gather in this area for relaxation and socialization . On the social level , bath houses were where gossiping , mingling , and business happened . Even more significantly , though , it was a place of political significance as the wealthy showed off their power .
Of course , these bathhouses also served the important purpose of hygiene . The Romans kept a very specific ritual , as they rubbed their bodies with olive oil and stripped it off later with a strigil ( surprisingly very similar to what oil cleansers do in modern day routines )!
A newfound bathhouse in Pompeii tells us even more about the daily life back in the day ; in fact , the park claims that this is “ one of the largest and most wellstructured private baths to have been discovered in a Pompeian domus ." This bathhouse shows the intricate details in the architecture of these thermal complexes ! For example , the painting discovered on the walls depicting the Trojan War and athletes shows the vibrancy of culture .
These excavations are not easy jobs — archeologists have to find innovative ways to reach the floor level without needing to dismantle the unstable architectural features . All together , it is thanks to these dedicated archeologists that we are learning even more about Ancient Rome !
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