The Roman Baths

The Roman Baths, located in Bath, England is a well-preserved site where the Romans used to bathe. It is an amazing site to see and being there truly enables you to imagine the Romans being there because of how well-preserved the site actually is. When you walk in you can see the amazing architecture, like the many pillars surrounding The Great Bath, which is the center piece of the Roman bathing establishment.

View from above The Great Bath. Notice the pillars

The Terrace above The Great Bath

 The Terrace above The Great Bath is a beautiful viewing spot of the area below. Here you get a wonderful view of the bath below and of all the statues lining The Terrace. These statues are of Roman Governors of Britain, Roman Emperors and military leaders.

One of the statues lining The Terrace

Ritual
The Roman Baths showed pomp and circumstance, formal ritual or celebration that was extremely important to their way of life. These community baths were not only important for personal hygiene but for social gatherings, as well. They bathed at this site religiously, worshiping their deity Sulis Minerva. The baths were a site of celebration with many people meeting their for social events or even for a nice swim. The baths were extremely important to the Romans, serving as a daily ritual for them.

Religion

Going inside of the site you find yourself in The Temple exhibit. The Temple at Bath is one of only two truly classical temples known from Roman Britain. Here, the surviving stones of the original Temple are displayed, with the Gorgon's head in the center. The Gorgon was a symbol of Sulis Minerva, the main deity that the Romans worshiped at the baths. Minerva was thought to be a nourishing, life-giving mother goddess who granted curses wished by her devoted followers.

Reflection
After visiting the Roman Baths and really learning about their true meaning and history, I see how important they really are. Before, I thought of them simply as public baths that I would never like to experience. Now, though, I see the importance of ritual of the baths. I see that the baths were important not just for bathing, but for social events, as well. It was a daily ritual for the Romans to meet at the baths and worship their deity or reflect on their lives. The Roman Baths were certainly more than just giant bath tubs!