VII.5.8 Pompeii. Terme del Foro or Forum Baths.

Entrance to vestibule of women’s baths. Excavated 1823.

Other parts of the baths:   VII.5.2      VII.5.7      VII.5.10      VII.5.12      VII.5.24      VII.6.17      VII.6.18      Forum Baths Plan

VII.5.8 Pompeii. June 2012. Looking south across Via delle Terme towards entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

The women's baths, smaller than the men's, had an independent entrance VII.5.8 along Via delle Terme (43); this measure was obviously necessary to maintain a clear separation between the two sectors. Upon entering, the first room consists of the vestibule in which there are seats (44) along the walls intended for the spa attendants or the slaves who accompanied their mistresses; subsequently you enter through a short corridor (45) the apodyterium (46), or the changing room.

See PAP E-Journal 02 – 8.3.2024, p. 5 fig. 6.

VII.5.8 Pompeii but shown on photo as VII.5.2. Pre-1937-39. Looking south-east on Via delle Terme.

Photo courtesy of American Academy in Rome, Photographic Archive. Warsher collection no. 1183.

VII.5.8 Pompeii, looking from VI.6.4. May 2005. North exterior wall, door, window and upper floor of VII.5.8.

For graffiti found between VII.5.7 and VII.5.8, see VII.5.7.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. May 2005. Entrance doorway (no. 43 on plan).

VII.5.8 Pompeii. Allei Nigidi Mai programma found in 1824 painted on the wall flanking the door of the female baths.

According to Fiorelli the dedication seemed to be mentioned in a programma, read in the courtyard or viridarium of the men's bath, of which only a few tattered remains remain; and in another that was painted on the wall flanking the door of the female baths, now completely disappeared.

See Pappalardo, U., 2001. La Descrizione di Pompei per Giuseppe Fiorelli (1875). Napoli: Massa Editore, p. 94.

According to Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de) this reads

Dedicatione

[operis tabula]rum muneris Cn(aei) Allei Nigidi Mai

[3 pompa] venatio athletae sparsiones vela erunt

Maio

principi coloniae

feliciter      [CIL IV 1177]

VII.5.8 Pompeii. June 2012. Looking south-east from window across vestibule with benches (44). Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. June 2012. Looking south from window, across vestibule with benches (44) to corridor (45).

The corridor led to the changing room (46). Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

According to Niccolini, the women’s baths area was composed of similar rooms to the men’s, but they were less spacious and less decorated.

The floors were all encrusted with white mosaic.

It had a completely separated entrance doorway (VII.5.8 which is no. 43 on the plan), leading into a vestibule (44) the only thing they shared were the same heat and the same water.

The corridor (45) led to the changing room (46).

The changing room (46) which gave onto the frigidarium on one side (48), had a white mosaic floor, yellow walls with pillars alternatively painted in red and then black, and around the walls, was a cornice lightly carved of white stucco.

Above the masonry seats (47), similar to those in the changing room of the men’s baths, there was room for only about ten people to undress.

The frigidarium (48) was very damaged, but the bath/basin had been square.

The tepidarium of this bath (49) had a suspended floor, and hollow walls that were warmed by the heat of the furnace.

Its paintings on a yellow background were barely visible, and heavily damaged. The floor was pure white marble mosaic.

The caldarium (50) was similar to the men’s caldarium, with a labrum (52), the laconicum (51), and a hot bath (53).

The suspended floor of this room, and the channels or hollows of the walls were almost all destroyed

Of the labrum, nothing remained other than the feet, in the middle of which was found a piece of the lead which introduced the water.

See Niccolini F, 1890. Le case ed i monumenti di Pompei: Volume Terzo. Napoli.

According to Breton, the building that was thought to house a bath for women had existed for a long time.

These baths had only one entrance doorway, open from the Via delle Terme, and preceded by a small vestibule.

After entering the doorway, the passageway led to a room which served as both changing room and frigidarium.

It retained benches belonging to a changing room, and a basin that characterized the frigidarium.

From there a doorway led to the tepidarium, warmed up by a suspended floor.

The hot steam was also under the floor and in the cavities of the walls of the caldarium, where the pool and the labrum were built of rough masonry.

The vaults of this area were preserved, but fully nude; the paintings that had decorated the walls were barely visible.

See Breton, Ernest. 1870. Pompeia, Guide de visite a Pompei, 3rd ed. Paris, Guerin.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. December 2005. Entrance doorway (43), looking towards west side.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. June 2012. Looking south from entrance doorway to corridor (45). Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. July 2023.

Looking north across changing room (46), towards Piscina (48), on left, with square doorway to corridor (45), on right.

Work carried out under the auspices of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii since May 2022 has transformed their appearance.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. Pre 1836 drawing by Gell.

Drawing by Gell of the changing room (46) with the Frigidarium, benches (47) and Piscina of the women’s baths. (48). 

Looking north across changing room (46), towards Piscina (48), on left, with square doorway to corridor (45), on right.

Gell wrote –

“In this plate is represented a chamber with its roof entire which is supposed to be the thermae of the women.

The darkness here observable, perhaps, may lead us to suppose that the other apartments were by no means well lighted when the roofs were perfect. A figure is represented as in the piscina, or natatio, to show its existence. The bench on the left, which appears so much out of true perspective, is really so placed on the spot……………., etc.”

See Gell, W and Gandy, J., 1880. Pompeii, its destruction and re-discovery. New York: Worthington.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. August 2021.

Frigidarium (46), looking towards piscina (48) with step.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. March 2024.

Frigidarium (46), looking towards piscina (48) with step, after restoration.

The restoration of the walls of this small basin, almost entirely covered by concretions, revealed for the first time the splendid decoration with plant elements and birds on a yellow background and teal green lower wall base.

See PAP E-Journal 02 – 8.3.2024, p. 6 fig. 8. Download E-Journal-Terme-femminili-del-Foro.pdf

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. March 2024. The changing room (46) with mosaic floor, frescoed walls and benches on both sides (47). Looking south.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. August 2021. Changing room (46), east wall with painted decoration before restoration.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. March 2024. The changing room (46) west wall with mosaic floor, frescoed walls and bench (47).

The women's baths, smaller than the men's, had an independent entrance along Via delle Terme; this measure was obviously necessary to maintain a clear separation between the two sectors. Upon entering, the first room consists of the vestibule in which there are seats (44) along the walls intended for the spa attendants or the slaves who accompanied their mistresses; subsequently you enter through a short corridor (45) the apodyterium (46), or the changing room, with a white mosaic floor bordered by a single black band and frescoed walls with black and yellow panels in the middle register and white with stucco frame in the upper one.

See PAP E-Journal 02 – 8.3.2024, p. 5 fig. 6.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. March 2024. The changing room (46) with mosaic floor, frescoed walls and benches (47) looking through door into tepidarium (49).

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. May 2024.

Tepidarium (49), looking towards north-west corner and doorway into room (46) in north wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. May 2024. Tepidarium (49), looking towards west wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. August 2021. Tepidarium (49), looking south along west wall.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. May 2024. Tepidarium (49), looking towards south-west corner, after restoration. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. May 2024. Tepidarium (49), looking towards south wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

The tepidarium and calidarium were both equipped with a floor with a cavity supported by small pillars (suspensurae) for the passage of hot air, which then also flowed into the walls equipped with tegula mammata tiles creating a hollow space as seen in this photo.

See PAP E-Journal 02 – 8.3.2024, p. 5-6 fig. 10.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. May 2024.

Tepidarium (49), detail from upper south wall at east end. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. May 2024. Tepidarium (49), detail from upper south wall, left of centre. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. May 2024. Tepidarium (49), detail from upper south wall, right of centre. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. August 2021.

Caldarium (50). Looking south to doorway to tepidarium (49).

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

Prior to the start of the restoration works, the archaeological materials and human remains, historically housed here on wooden shelves, were moved to other deposits in the Park, after having verified and integrated their cataloguing.

See PAP E-Journal 02 – 8.3.2024, p. 7 fig. 11.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. August 2021. Caldarium (50), and base of labrum (52).

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. March 2024. Caldarium (50), and labrum (52).

The masonry support of the labrum, with vegetal decoration, in the calidarium after restoration.

The calidarium was equipped with a small tub for immersion baths and the labrum of which only the masonry support of the tub remains.

The tepidarium and calidarium were both equipped with a floor with a cavity supported by small pillars (suspensurae) for the passage of hot air, which then also flowed into the walls equipped with hollow tegula mammata tiles. The floor of the calidarium was destroyed in the earthquake of 62 AD. and at the time of the eruption it was being renovated, as also demonstrated by a pile of mosaic tiles found in a corner of the room at the time of the excavation and still preserved on site.

See PAP E-Journal 02 – 8.3.2024, p. 5-6 fig. 9.

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

VII.5.8 Pompeii, on left. Vicolo delle Terme from Via delle Terme (centre). VII.6 on right.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. March 2009. Upper side wall with arched recess in Vicolo delle Terme.

According to Cooke Cockburn and Donaldson -

“Beyond the hypocaust is another set of baths for the plebeians, or perhaps for the women; little, however, is to be seen but gloomy vaulted rooms, with few indications to determine their use. It is remarkable that, although so long undiscovered, the highest of these vaults, of which a considerable portion remains, was less than eighteen inches (0.45metres) below the surface of the soil.”

See Cooke, Cockburn, Donaldson, Pompeii, Pt 1, 1827, (p.60)

VII.5.8 Pompeii, (side wall), on left. May 2005. Vicolo delle Terme looking south. VII.6. on right.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. May 2011.

West side wall of women’s Forum Baths area, with remains of water tower with lead basin in recess.

Looking south along Vicolo delle Terme. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

VII.5.8 Pompeii, 1980.

West side wall of women’s Forum Baths area, with remains of water tower. 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.

J80f0216

VII.5.8 Pompeii. March 2009. Side wall, with remains of water tower with lead basin in recess.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. March 2009. Side wall, with remains of water tower and recess.

VII.5.8-9 Pompeii. October 2014.

Water tower, looking north along Vicolo delle Terme. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

Other parts of the baths:   VII.5.2      VII.5.7      VII.5.10      VII.5.12      VII.5.24      VII.6.17      VII.6.18      Forum Baths Plan