Roman Emperor Caracalla Was Born Thesis

The public library in the baths of Caracalla was no exception to this (DeLaine, 1997).

Inside the bathing area itself, there were several components (DeLaine, 1997). One of these was a 183X79-foot cold room located under three 108-foot high groin vaults. There was also a double pool which was tepid, and a 115-foot diameter hot room (DeLaine, 1997). There were also two separate gyms where people could box and wrestle with one another. There was also a standard swimming pool in the north end of the complex. It was a roofless structure and had mirrors made of bronze mounted over it (DeLaine, 1997). This helped to direct sunlight into the area surrounding the pool for both beauty and warmth. The whole building was on a platform that was raised up twenty feet off of the ground. This was done in order to allow for the furnaces underneath the building and also to offer storage (DeLaine, 1997).

On the east and the west sides of the bathing complex there were the libraries. On the north wall of the complex, there were shops that lined the entire space (DeLaine, 1997). The south wall contained reservoirs, and they were filled with water that came from the Marcian Aqueduct (DeLaine, 1997). The principle dimensions of the bath complex and the floorplan are as follows:

Dimensions and Layout of the Baths

Principle dimensions

Precinct maximum: 412x393M

Internal: 323x323M

Central Block overall: 218x112M

Swimming Pool: 54x23M

Frigidarium: 59x24M height c. 41M

Coldarium: 35M diameter height c. 44M

Internal courts: 67x29M

Quantities of materials

Pozzolanna: 341,000 Cu. M

Quick lime: 35,000 Cu. M

Tufa: 341,000 Cu. M

Basalt for foundations: 150,000 Cu. M

Brick pieces for facing: 17.5 million

Large Bricks: 520,000

Marble columns in Central block: 252

Marble for columns and decorations: 6,300 Cu. M

Estimated average labour figures on site

Exavation: 5,200 men

Substructure: 9,500 men

Central Block: 4,500 men decoration: 1,800 men (Wikipedia, 2008).

In the bath area is a huge, 15-foot high statue of Aesclepius (DeLaine, 1997). There are also 40-foot granite columns in the cold room that weigh around 100 tons. In order to complete the bath of Caracalla in the time period that history indicates, there would have to have been 2,000 tons of material installed in it each day for six years (DeLaine, 1997). The hypocaust heated the building, and this was a system of burning wood and coal that was located underneath the building and heated water that was in an aqueduct dedicated to the baths. Until the 19th century, that was what was used.

Conclusion

It was no big secret that Caracalla was a harsh ruler. He frequently had people killed just because he was able to, and he basically trusted no one. His reign was famous for a lot of deadly and horrible things. However, his reign was also famous for the baths and for the good treatment of the soldiers in the army. It is important to note these things, because otherwise it can be misconstrued that the reign of Caracalla was all bad. It was not, but there was little caring about the actual people who made up the Empire, and much more concern about those who could protect it. Wealth and power were also highly prized, as long as someone was not wealthier or more powerful than the Emperor.

Bibliography

Birley, Anthony R. (1988). Septimius Severus: The…