Ancient Roman Baths Glossary

Ancient Roman Baths Glossary

Roman Colosseum

'The Roman Colosseum'

History, Facts and Information about Ancient Roman Baths Glossary
The content of this article provides interesting facts and information via an Ancient Roman Baths Glossary. A full description of the Roman baths, including how they were heated and history, establishment, entrance fees and baths for women are detailed on the links below.

Roman Baths

Roman Public Baths

Ancient Roman Baths Glossary
The terminology and names used to describe the different elements of the Roman Baths are described in the following glossary of terms relating to ancient Roman baths:

Public Baths (thermae)
Balnea or balneae - bath buildings
Balneator - the "bath-man"
Conductor - Bath Manager
Caldarium - hot bath room
Tepidarium - warm bath room
Frigidarium - cold bath room
Natatio - open-air bathing pool
Apodyteria - changing rooms
Palaestrae - gymnasium or exercise ground
Alveus - hot bathing pool in the caldarium
Calida piscina - large pool, heated independently of the pools in the caldarium
Unctorium - "Scraping room"
Exedra - Rooms off the palaestra used for relaxation
Labrum - splash basin in the caldarium
Laconicum - Sweat room
Sphaeristerium - Ball-playing court
Natatio - Open-air swimming pool
Palaestra - exercise yard
Piscina - pools
Praefurnium - Furnace room
Sculponea - Wooden sandals to protect bathers' feet from the hot floors
Strigiles - Small curved instruments used to scarpe the cleansing oils in the palaestra or the tepidarium
Sudatorium - Humid sweat-bath