Roman Baths, Bath 
Ancient Roman baths with a view of Bath Abbey.
The Gorgon's head, which once adorned the temple pediment.
Bronze head from the temple statue of Minerva; an altar to Minerva.
The Roman Baths are a well-preserved Roman sacred site in the English city of Bath. The site includes the remains of the Temple of Aquae Sulis, the Roman baths fed by the sacred hot spring, and a well-presented museum of artifacts found at the site.
The fundamental part of the Roman Baths is the sacred spring. Hot water at a temperature of 460°C rises here at the rate of 1,170,000 liters (240,000 gallons) every day and has been doing so for thousands of years. To the ancients, this remarkable phenomenon could only be the work of the gods.
The first shrine at the springs in Bath was built by the Celts, and dedicated to the goddess Sulis. After the Roman invasion, Sulis was identified with the Roman goddess Minerva, but the name Sulis continued to be used. This led to the town's ancient Roman name of Aquae Sulis ("waters of Sulis").
During the Roman occupation of Britain, increasingly grand temples and bathing complexes were built. The bath complex in Bath was founded in 75 AD. The healing powers of the goddess and the mineral-rich water from the spring attracted visitors from across the Roman Empire.
After the Roman withdrawal the baths fell into disrepair and were eventually lost due to silting up. When bathing again became fashionable in England, the site was reopened. The magnificent Georgian building now standing was erected at the end of the 18th century.
The ancient Roman Baths were rediscovered and excavated in the late 18th century. As well as being an important archaeological find, they have from that time to the present been one of the city's main attractions.
The Roman Baths are unsafe for bathing because the water has passed through the still-functioning lead pipes constructed by the Romans. However, the luxurious new Thermae Spa, which opened in September 2004, allows modern-day bathers to experience the waters for themselves.
The Roman Baths are below the street level of modern Bath and other Roman ruins stretch out beneath the city in all directions. The site consists of four main features: the Sacred Spring; the Roman Temple; the Roman bath house; and finds from Roman Bath.
The Roman Temple at Bath is one of only two classical temples known from Roman Britain. The temple was built to house the cult statue of the goddess Sulis Minerva, the gilt-bronze head of this statue is on display in the museum.
The great ornamental pediment from the temple has been re-erected in the museum and carries an image of a bearded face carved in local Bath stone. It is the Gorgon’s head, a symbol of Minerva that also resembles other water gods like Oceanus and Neptune. Its sun-like appearance may represent the heat of the sacred spring.The Gorgon is encircled by surrounded by wreaths of leaves and surrounded by winged victories. The owl and the helmet at the bottom of the pediment symbolize Minerva's responsibility for wisdom and war.
The Roman Baths Museum contains many objects of interest, including thousands of objects thrown into the spring as offerings to the goddess. These offerings include:
- Over 12,000 Roman coins, the largest votive deposit known from Britain;
- Curses, with messages inscribed on sheets of lead or pewter that were rolled up and thrown into the spring where the spirit of the goddess dwelt; and
- Metal pans, known as paterae, inscribed with the letters DSM or the words Deae Sulis Minerva. These may have been used for making offerings of holy water.
Location Map
Location map of the Roman Baths. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. You can explore all of Bath on our own Bath Map.
| Address: | Abbey Churchyard, Bath BA1 1LZ, England |
| Phone: | 01225/477785 |
| Web: | http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/ |
| E-mail: | romanbaths_inquiries@bathnes.gov.uk |
| Hours: | Mar.-June, Sept., and Oct., daily 9-6; July and Aug., daily 9 AM-10 PM; Nov.-Feb., daily 9:30-5:30; last admission 1 hr before closing. |
| Cost: | £9 with audio guide; combined ticket with Museum of Costume and Assembly Rooms (valid 7 days) £12. |
| Tip: | Try a sip of the hot mineral spring water in the Pump Room's fountain – it tastes truly awful, but has long been believed to have healing powers! |
Sources
- Personal visit (September 2005).
- The Official Roman Baths Museum Web Site
- The Pump Room & Roman Baths– Frommer's Attraction Review
- Roman Baths – Fodor's Online Travel Guide
- Bathing Beauty – Sydney Morning Herald, August 8, 2004
