IX.4.15 Pompeii. Terme Centrali or Central Baths. Entrance from Vicolo di Tesmo.

Entrance to service area and small garden.

Terme Centrali or Central Baths Plan

These baths were begun after the 62AD earthquake, and were still under construction at the time of the eruption in 79AD.

The baths occupied this entire insula whose original houses had been demolished to make way for the new baths.

IX.4.18 on the north side was the main entrance “a” from the Via di Nola.

IX.4.5 on the west side was an entrance into the palaestra “d” from Via Stabiana.

IX.4.10 on the south side was a small entrance into the palaestra “d” past a multi seat latrine “e”from an unnamed vicolo

There were two other smaller entrances from Vicolo di Tesmo, probably service doorways, on the eastern side of the insula at IX.4.15 and 16.

IX.4.15 on the east side led to service area “t” from Vicolo di Tesmo.

This contained the furnace area and a small garden divided from it by a wall.

IX.4.16 on the east side led to an open area “u” from Vicolo di Tesmo.

This had a small peristyle and a corridor that led to apodyterium “i”.

During the excavation, the archaeologists found the remains of the demolished residential houses in the area of the palaestra, which had not been entirely cleared by the people building the new baths.

See Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, June 1877, p. 445, description and finds.

See Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1877, p. 214-223.

See Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1878, p. 251-4.

See La Rocca, De Vos and De Vos, 1976. Guida Archeologica di Pompei. Mondadori Editore, p. 307-9.

IX.4.15 Pompeii. September 2011.

Terme Centrali or Central Baths, the service entrance from Vicolo di Tesmo is set on a high kerb on the left. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IX.4.15 Pompeii. May 2005. Terme Centrali or Central Baths. Entrance from Vicolo di Tesmo. Looking towards exterior wall of caldarium “s”.

IX.4.15 Pompeii. May 2005. L shaped service area “t” with small garden.

Looking west from entrance towards south-east corner of caldarium, and remains of garden wall.

According to Jashemski, the five small windows of the caldarium looked out onto a small garden.

The garden would have had a wall enclosing it, to hide from view the men walking back and forth tending the furnaces.

The wall was only partially completed.

See Jashemski, W. F., 1993. The Gardens of Pompeii, Volume II: Appendices. New York: Caratzas. (p.235).

IX.4.15 Pompeii. May 2005. South-east corner of baths complex area “t”, from doorway.

According to Mau,

“Another large pilaster (1,50 x 1,20) was in the SE corner; it being built of grey tufa cut to look like masonry bricks – construction  that in these baths was not found anymore - so it would seem possible that it might be the remains of an older buildings; as one recognises with great certainty the opening of a cistern, conserved between this pillar and the corner of the caldarium [“s”]”.

See Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1878, (p. 253 of pages 251- 254).

IX.4.15 Pompeii. May 1886. Cistern (?) at external angle of caldarium, back court of Baths.”.

Courtesy of Society of Antiquaries. Fox Collection.

This photograph is looking north along the east wall of calidarium “s” along baths area “t”.

The small arch in the base of the projecting tepidarium “q” wall can be seen.

The open area “u” and the doorway at IX.4.16 can be seen in the wall on the right.

IX.4.15 Pompeii. September 2011. South-east corner of baths complex area “t”, looking west.

This is the location of the cistern mentioned by Mau and in the Fox Collection photograph above.  Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IX.4.15 Pompeii. September 2011. Looking north from entrance into area “t”. On the left is the rear wall of caldarium “s”.

The grey exterior wall of the laconicum (sweating room) “r” can be seen in the centre of the picture.  Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IX.4.15 Pompeii. May 2005. Looking north from entrance into area “t”.

The exterior wall of the laconicum (sweating room) “r” can be seen in the centre of the picture.

Three pilasters can be seen to the north of the wall in open area “u”.

According to Mau

“Between the rooms of the Baths and the eastern vicolo, there was only an area of open space, accessible by the two doorways from the eastern vicolo, and from which by a corridor you would pass into the vestibule [“i”].   

In the northern part are 3 pilasters of brick and limestone cut to look like masonry bricks, and it seems that they should have supported a roof  that in the guise of a portico would have covered the north side, and a part of the west side”.

See Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1878, (p. 253 of pages 251- 254).

IX.4.15 Pompeii. September 2011. Entrance doorway sill. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Unnamed vicolo between IX.3 and IX.4. May 2005. North side.

Looking west from junction with Vicolo di Tesmo along the exterior south wall of area “t” of the baths complex.

Street altar on SE corner of IX.4. May 2005.

IX.3.22, Pompeii, on left. May 2005.     Unnamed vicolo between IX.3 and IX.4 (baths) looking west.        IX.4.15, on right.

IX.4.15, Pompeii, on left. May 2005.           Vico di Tesmo looking north towards Via di Nola.                      IX.5, on right.

Terme Centrali or Central Baths Plan