IX.4.18 Pompeii. Terme Centrali or Central Baths. Main Entrance from Via di Nola.

Part 2      Part 3      Part 1      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.

See De Haan, Wallat, Le Terme Centrali di Pompei: Ricerche e scavi 2003-2006, in Nuove ricerche archeologiche nell'area vesuviana (scavi 2003-2006): SAP 25: pp. 15-24.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. October 2020.

Looking east across north end of palaestra “d”, towards north-east corner. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. September 2011. Looking east from entrance doorway along north side to vestibule i. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. December 2019.

Looking south-east along east side of palaestra “d” with windows in Baths. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. December 2009. Looking south-east to east side and baths.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. June 2008. North end of east side of baths.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. East side of baths, looking south-east.

Photographed 1970-79 by Günther Einhorn, picture courtesy of his son Ralf Einhorn.

The doorway on the left would have led to the apodyterium (changing room) “i”.

In the centre would have been the three windows of the frigidarium (cold) “p”.

On the right are the three large windows of the tepidarium (warm) “q”.

The caldarium (hot room) “s” would be the room with three square windows, on the right.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. 1964. East side of baths, looking south-east. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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IX.4.18 Pompeii. September 2011.

Two doorways into vestibule “i”. At the rear on the left can be seen the small rooms “k” and “l”. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. September 2011. Two doorways into vestibule “i”. At the rear on the left can be seen the small rooms “n” and “o”.

In the inside right wall are the two entrances into the apodyterium or frigidarium “p”. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. Looking south-east. The doorway to the vestibule or apodyterium (changing room) “i”.

Inside on the right are the two doors to the frigidarium or apodyterium “p”.

Photographed 1970-79 by Günther Einhorn, picture courtesy of his son Ralf Einhorn.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. c.1890s. Doorway to Vestibule “i” and window into Frigidarium “p”. Looking east from palaestra “d”.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. December 2019.

Looking south-east along east side with windows from Frigidarium, Tepidarium and Caldarium. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. September 2011.

Apodyterium or Frigidarium “p” on east side of baths palaestra “d”. Detail from photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. October 2009.

Apodyterium or frigidarium “p”. Looking east from entrance across palaestra “d”. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. May 2005. Apodyterium or frigidarium “p”. Looking east from entrance across palaestra “d”.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. Apodyterium or frigidarium “p”. Looking east across palaestra “d”.

Photographed 1970-79 by Günther Einhorn, picture courtesy of his son Ralf Einhorn.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. October 2020.

Looking south-east across palaestra “d”, with windows to rooms “q” and “s”, on left. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

IX.4 Pompeii. 1961. Looking south-east across east side of Baths. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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IX.4.18 Pompeii. September 2011. Tepidarium “q” on east side of baths palaestra “d”. Detail from photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. October 2009. Tepidarium “q”, looking east from entrance across palaestra “d”. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. May 2005. Tepidarium “q”. Looking east from entrance across palaestra “d”.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. Tepidarium “q”. Looking east across palaestra “d”.

Photographed 1970-79 by Günther Einhorn, picture courtesy of his son Ralf Einhorn.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. 1930s photo by Tatiana Warscher of Tepidarium “q”.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. December 2019.

Looking north-east on east side of palaestra “d”, with windows into Tepidarium “q”, on left, and Caldarium “s”, on right.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. December 2019. Looking east towards windows into Caldarium “s”. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. September 2011. Caldarium “s” on east side of baths palaestra “d”. Detail from photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. May 2005. Caldarium “s”. Looking east from entrance across palaestra “d”.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. Caldarium “s”. Looking east across palaestra “d”.

Photographed 1970-79 by Günther Einhorn, picture courtesy of his son Ralf Einhorn.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. Old undated postcard showing caldarium “s” before 1943 bombing.

IX.4.18 Pompeii. Photo by Nash, Fototeca Unione Roma.

Looking east across palaestra “d” towards three windows of caldarium “s”, on right. On the left are the windows of tepidarium “q”.

Used with the permission of the Institute of Archaeology, University of Oxford. File name instarchbx208im076. Resource ID. 44402.  

See photo on University of Oxford HEIR database

IX.4.18 Pompeii. Central Baths. May 1886. Cisterns (?) at external angle of caldarium “s”, back court “t” of Baths.

Courtesy of Society of Antiquaries. Fox Collection.

Looking north along east side. The internal side of open area “u” and doorway at IX.4.16 can be seen in the wall on the right.

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”.

See Bullettino dell’Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica (DAIR), 1878, (p253 of pages 251- 254).

See IX.4.15.

Part 3      Part 1      Terme Centrali or Central Baths Plan