The first records for the use of baths date back as far as 3000 B.C. At this time water had a strong religious value, being seen as a purifying element for both body and soul. So it was not uncommon for people to be required to cleanse themselves before entering a sacred area. Baths are recorded as part of village or town life throughout this period, with a split between steam baths in Europe and America and cold baths in Asia. Communal baths were erected in a distinctly separate area from the living quarters of the village.
Greek and Roman bathing The Roman attitudes towards bathing are well documented; they built large thermal baths (
thermae), marking not only a significant social development but also providing a public source of relaxation and rejuvenation. Here was a place where people could meet to discuss the matters of the day and enjoy entertainment. During this period there was a distinction between private and public baths, with many wealthy families having their thermal baths in their houses. Despite this they still made use of the public baths, showing the value that they had as a public institution. The strength of the Roman Empire was telling in this respect; imports from throughout the world allowed Roman citizens to enjoy ointments, incense, combs, and mirrors. The partially reconstructed ruins can still be seen today, for example at
Roman Baths (Bath) in
Bath, England, then part of
Roman Britain. Not all ancient baths were in the style of the large pools that often come to mind when one imagines the
Roman baths; the earliest surviving bathtub dates back to 1700 B.C and hails from the Palace of
Knossos in Crete. What is remarkable about this tub is not only the similarity with the baths of today but also how the plumbing works surrounding it differ so little from modern models. A more advanced prehistoric (15th century BC and before) system of baths and plumbing is to be found in the excavated town of
Akrotiri, on the Aegean island of
Santorini (Thera). There,
alabaster tubs and other bath fittings were found, along with a sophisticated twin plumbing system to transport hot and cold water separately. This was probably because of easy access to
geothermic hot springs on this
volcanic island. Both the Greeks and the Romans recognized the value of bathing as an important part of their lifestyles. Writers such as
Homer had their heroes bathe in warm water to regain their strength; it is perhaps notable that the mother of
Achilles bathed him to gain his invincibility. Palaces have been uncovered throughout Greece with areas that are dedicated to bathing, spaces with ceramic bathtubs, as well as sophisticated drainage systems. Homer uses the word λοετρά,
loetrá, "baths", later λουτρά,
loutrá, from the verb λούειν,
loúein, to bathe. The same root finds an even earlier attestation on
Linear B tablets, in the name of the River
Lousios ("bathing" [river]), in
Arcadia. Public baths are mentioned by the comedian
Aristophanes as βαλανεία,
balaneía (sing.: βαλανείον,
balaneíon,
Latinized as
balneum, a "balneary").
16th century and beyond Throughout the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, the use of
public baths declined gradually in the West, and private spaces were favored, thus laying the foundations for the bathroom, as it was to become, in the 20th century. However, increased urbanization led to the creation of more
baths and washhouses in Britain. In Japan shared bathing in
sento and
onsen (
spas) still exists, the latter being very popular. Cultural historian
Barbara Penner has written of the ambiguous nature of bathrooms as both the most private space and one most connected to the wider outside world. ==Gallery==