Baths of Titus

By the Editors of the Madain Project

The Baths of Titus (Terme di Tito) were public baths built by emperor Titus on the Esquiline Hill in 81 CE. The baths of Titus were among the earliest imperial thermae, serving as a model for later, more elaborate Roman bathhouses.

See Location   Home > N/A
See Subject   Home > Europe > Italy > Rome > Baths of Titus

Overview

The baths of emperor Titus were situated at the base of the Esquiline Hill, an area of parkland and luxury estates which had been taken over by Nero (54–68 CE) for his Domus Aurea. Titus' baths seem to have been built in haste, possibly converting an existing or partly built bathing complex belonging to the reviled Domus Aurea. They were not particularly extensive, and the much larger Baths of Trajan were built immediately adjacent to them at the start of the next century.

Though smaller in scale compared to the Baths of Trajan and Baths of Caracalla, the Baths of Titus featured the essential elements of Roman bath complexes, including a frigidarium (cold bath), tepidarium (warm bath), caldarium (hot bath), and palaestrae (exercise courtyards).

The structure seems to have been either heavily influenced by the earlier Baths of Nero or may have even incorporated parts of it, integrating both Greek and Roman architectural principles. Although little of the original structure survives today, historical accounts and archaeological evidence suggest that the baths were richly decorated with frescoes and sculptural elements, some of which are believed to have been inspired by the opulent Domus Aurea (Golden House) of Nero.

Brief History

circa 81 CE

The baths were either built anew or repurposed existing structures belonging to the Domus Aurea. Even though the baths of Trajan, far grander and elaborate, were built nearby, baths of Titus remained in use. However, sometime around the late second century CE, they seem to have been defunct for a while. The Baths of Titus were restored during the reign of Hadrian as well as in 238 CE but no further repairs are known. It is thus likely that the entire complex underwent a process of early abandonment given the close proximity to the larger baths of emperor Trajan.

By the late 4th century CE, the front part of the baths seems to had collapsed (Lanciani, 1897 CE), and the remaining structure was rebuilt and incorporated in the offices for the urban prefect on the site.

Significant parts of the Titus' baths were still standing in the 16th century CE when Andrea Palladio described the floor plan. The ruins were demolished shortly afterwards, their marble and building materials being reused for the building of palaces and churches such as the side chapels of the Church of the Gesù or the fountain of the Cortile del Belvedere in the Vatican.

Architecture

circa 81 CE

Structure
The Baths of Titus were the first of the "imperial" baths to use what would become a standard design for public bathing complexes in Rome in the second and third centuries CE. The entire building was strictly symmetrical, and featured along its center axis from north to south the main bath chambers in a sequence: frigidarium, tepidarium, and caldarium. As in the other thermae, the caldarium was south facing and projected forward from the main block to absorb the warmth of the sun to best effect. Preceding the building on the south side was a terrace supporting a large open area, presumably featuring gardens, which was another typical feature of the later Roman imperial baths. The only major feature not present in the Baths of Titus is a natatio, or open air swimming pool, which in the later baths of Trajan, Caracalla, and Diocletian preceded the frigidarium on the north side.

The frigidarium was the largest room, consisting of three bays with groin vaulted ceilings and enclosures in each corner supporting barrel vaults. These enclosures were screened by columns and contained cold plunge baths. Flanking the frigidarium on the east and west sides was a palaestra for exercise and apodyteria, or changing rooms. The small intermediate room, the tepidarium, was flanked by staircases on either side leading to an upper story; from the south ran a corridor separating a pair of large caldaria. According to the floorplans of Andrea Palladio, each caldarium had a small laconicum (dry sweating room) attached to it. Smaller suites of hot rooms ran along the south façade on either side of the tepidarium staircases.

A broad staircase descended 18 meters (59 feet) from the terrace in front of the Baths of Titus down the south side of the Oppian to the plaza of the Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater), where it joined with a portico. The ruins of this portico were excavated in 1895 CE; the brick-faced concrete piers can still be seen on the north side of the Piazza del Colosseo.

The remains of the fired-brick structures visible today at the foot of the Oppian hill near the Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseo) are probably the ruins of part of the arcades adjacent to the lower vestibule of the baths. It is however is not certain whether it was part of the entrance itself preceding the staircase, or part of the side arcades, probably housing tabernae (shops). Either way, they are unfortunately one of the few fragments of Titus' baths that have survived to this day.

circa 81 CE

Decorations
One of the features of the baths was mural designs by the artist Famulus (or Fabullus), both al fresco and al stucco. Nicholas Ponce copied and reproduced them as engravings in his volume "Description des bains de Titus" (Paris, 1786 CE). The designs are now recognized as a source of the style known as "grotesque" (meaning "like a small cave, a hollow, a grotto") because the ruins of the Baths of Titus looked like a hollow in the ground or an overgrown cave when they were discovered.

Notable Surviving Artefacts

circa 81 CE

Porphyry Basin
The porphyry-basin was discovered sometime after 1565 CE, and given by Ascanio Colonna to Julius III. It is now in the Sala Rotonda of the Vatican.

Gallery Want to use our images?

See Also

References

Let's bring some history to your inbox

Signup for our monthly newsletter / online magazine.
No spam, we promise.

Privacy Policy



Top