Roman Baths (Bath)

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The Great Bath. The entire structure above the level of the pillar bases is a later reconstruction

The entrance to the Roman Baths

For Roman baths in general, see Thermae.

The Roman Baths complex is a site of historical interest in the English city of Bath. The complex is a very well preserved Roman site of public bathing, and is a major tourist attraction. The buildings, the upper portions of which are 18th Century, are grade 1 listed.^[1]

1 History
2 Gallery
3 External links
4 References

[edit] History

The first shrine at the site of the springs was built by Celts, and was dedicated to the goddess Sulis, whom the Romans identified with Minerva; however, the name Sulis continued to be used after the Roman invasion, leading to the town's Roman name of Aquae Sulis (literally, "the waters of Sulis"). During the Roman occupation of Britain increasingly grand temples and bathing complexes were built at Bath, but after the Roman withdrawal these fell into disrepair and were eventually lost due to silting up. The complex was rediscovered in the 18th century and, as well as being a major archaeological find, it has become one of the city's main tourist attractions. The water that flows through the Roman Baths is considered unsafe for bathing, partly due to its having passed through the still-functioning original lead pipes. Thermae Bath Spa (nearby) allows modern-day bathers to experience the waters via a series of more recently-drilled boreholes.