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

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

Part 1      Part 2

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. October 2024. Looking south across Via delle Terme towards entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

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. October 2024.

Looking towards south side of vestibule from entrance doorway with bench, on left, and doorway to corridor (45), centre left.

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024.

Looking south across vestibule from entrance doorway to corridor (45), centre left. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

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

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024.

Looking north towards doorway to corridor 45. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Corridor 45, north wall with graffiti. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Corridor 45, ship graffiti on north wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Corridor 45, north wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Corridor 45, ship graffiti. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Corridor 45, ship graffiti. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Corridor 45, ship graffiti. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Corridor 45, detail of ship graffiti. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Corridor 45, ship graffiti. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Corridor 45, detail of ship graffiti. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Corridor 45, detail of ship graffiti. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Corridor 45, detail of ship graffiti. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024.

Doorway to corridor 45 in north-east corner of Apodyterium 46. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024.

Room 46, detail from pilaster on left side of corridor 45. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Room 46, looking south from corridor 45. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024.

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

Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024.

Room 46, looking north along west wall of Apodyterium, towards Frigidarium basin 48, on right. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Changing room 46, with barrel-vaulted ceiling, looking north. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

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. October 2024.

Frigidarium 48, looking north from Apodyterium/changing room 46. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

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

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. October 2024.

Frigidarium basin 48, west wall of basin. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024.

Frigidarium basin 48, detail from south side of west wall of basin. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024.

Frigidarium basin 48, detail from north side of west wall of basin. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024.

Frigidarium 48, detail of north wall of basin. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Frigidarium 48, upper east wall of basin. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Frigidarium 48, looking north in basin. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024.

Room 46, looking north along east wall of Apodyterium, towards doorway to corridor 45, on left. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Room 46, detail of east wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024.

Room 46, looking south along east wall towards doorway to Tepidarium 49, on right. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

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. October 2024. Changing room (46), looking south. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

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

Photograph © Parco Archeologico di Pompei.

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.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Changing room (46), west wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Changing room (46), upper west wall at south end. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Changing room (46), upper west wall at north of centre. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Changing room (46), detail from centre of upper west wall. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Changing room (46), lower centre of west wall, with bench on left. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024. Changing room (46), lower west wall at north end of bench. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VII.5.8 Pompeii. October 2024.

Changing room (46), south-west corner with doorway into room 49, Tepidarium. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

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.

Part 1      Part 2

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