Septimius Bassian of Caracalla. The terms of Emperor Caracalla: photo, history, reconstruction, how to get there?

The dilapidated ancient building, located on the territory of the capital of Italy, was once called the eighth wonder of the world. The man-made historical monument still testifies to the greatness of the ancient empire, having turned into the stage of the Roman opera known all over the world.

The terms of Caracalla: history

Before you start talking about one of the main attractions of the Eternal City, you need to clarify what the terms are. Living before our era, the inhabitants of ancient Rome experienced colossal problems associated with water. Therefore, the officials often raised the issue of the construction of aqueducts, which would deliver the life-giving moisture to the city. Each new fountain or water pipe became a real event of that time.

Gradually began to appear the first baths, access to which was exclusively for the rich and noble Romans. It can be said that swimming in the therma played an important role in public life, it became a kind of informal communication for the powers that be. Famous citizens did not just wash themselves, but discussed issues of concern to all. Baths offered not only services for washing the body, they included the whole cultural complex: gyms, libraries, rooms for theatrical productions. So the process of bathing turned into a special aesthetic pleasure.

The complex for ablution and entertainment

Naturally, the bath was not enough for everyone, and in the 3rd century of our era the Emperor of Caracalla was puzzled by this question. Termes built on the territory of Rome by his order, represented a huge bath complex, which was not equal. The construction of colossal scales, accommodating 1500 people, was built 11 long years. Built in a prestigious area of Rome, the monumental landmark included several halls for bathing and rest.

There is a record of the chronicler Spartian that after himself left an unusual complex the size of the whole city of the Emperor of Caracalla. The terms really astonished the whole world with their size and rich furnishings. High walls were built of pebbles and sand, between the stones were poured cement, and the facade was decorated with marble slabs - this created the effect of the visual fragility of a beautiful structure with the internal amazing fortress of the complex as a whole.

Architecture of the structure

Occupying an area of 11 hectares, the terms of the Emperor of Caracalla were a gigantic building with an amazingly beautiful frame. From all sides it was surrounded by a picturesque park with huge columns. A large number of rooms inside the complex were built symmetrically, and all corridors were designed in a special, curved manner to prevent heat from escaping.

On the one hand there was an amphitheater, in which there were different competitions, on the other there were libraries built specially for bored Romans. So ordered the Emperor of Caracalla. The terms included 64 rooms with huge cisterns, which were supplied with clean water from the mountain sources along the aqueduct. And after washing, the Romans went out for the baths and in the park zone they rested in cool arbors in the fresh air.

The structure of the thermal complex

A wonderful cypress alley led to the entrance to the bath complex. The main building, which served as a bathing place, was divided into several rooms.

The main hall, illuminated by golden soft light due to the beige colors inserted into the windows, surprised with the incredible height of the vault, in which the ascending marble walls seemed to dissolve. And through the opening in the dome of the building, daylight came in. The luxury of the decoration was amazing: the hall was decorated with numerous sculptures, and the floor was paved with a multicolored mosaic depicting scenes on mythological themes.

Hot bath (caldarium) was a rotunda with rest rooms after water procedures. Throughout the perimeter, there were small niches in which one could wash alone, a kind of bathroom.

A warm bath (tepidarium) surprised with a mosaic floor, on which figures of Roman athletes were laid out. To the right and left of the building there were gymnasiums.

The cold bath (frigidarium) allowed the flushed Romans to cool in the huge pool.

Prohibition of hygiene procedures

Well-made buildings of the term were considered a unique structure, but after the fall of the great Roman Empire, erected during the reign of the emperor named Caracalla, the terms fell into decay. Researchers believe that the main role in forgetting hygienic procedures was played by Christianity with sermons about the insignificance of the body and the greatness of the soul. It was believed that the moisture washes away the holy water into which the person was dipped at baptism, and the church ministers recognized the ablution in the bath in the bath, interfering with spiritual development, and all the constructions of the term were regarded as pagan.

The preachers who reduced their flesh did not wash, in all monasteries the bathrooms became a sign of special effeminacy, which is not the place in the spiritual institution. Dirt was revered as one of the Christian virtues, and even today there are even known stories that shock the modern man about the found lice, unequivocally recognized as a sign of holiness. The result was the various epidemics that raged in the Middle Ages in Europe and claimed the lives of millions of people.

The world famous landmark

In the 16th century, on the site of the ruins of the once great bath complexes, archaeological excavations began to be carried out in order to decorate the Pope's palace with the building material remaining from the thermal bath. And when amazing art objects were discovered, this place was given the status of a local cultural monument.

Only at the end of the 19th century the thermae of Caracalla, whose photos of the ruins make the tourists admired by Rome's former greatness as a memory, become a recognized Italian landmark. Huge ruins are open daily for visits, and nowadays they generally became the stage of an opera house. The former warm bath was converted into a huge hall, designed for almost 20 thousand spectators. Started in 1937, the opera season continues and now, and the most famous event was the performance in the Roman terms of three world-renowned tenors - Domingo, Carreras and Pavarotti.

Reconstruction of the Russian artist

In the middle of the XIX century, Sergei Ivanov was sent to Rome from Russia to restore the architectural appearance of the monumental building. An industrious young man was not even frightened by the outbreak of the revolution, and he continued his work, regardless of the circumstances. Soon in the Italian language is published the work of Ivanov, who studied the terms of Caracalla in detail. The reconstruction, which was presented by the Russian artist, consisted of 43 drawings showing the central part of the building, as well as rooms in a section.

He not only scrupulously reproduced all the decorations of the grandiose complex, but also indicated rooms with warm and cold water, locker rooms, gyms and other parts of the main building. The work of the Russian scientist is invaluable for all researchers of ancient ruins, he testifies to the luxury of the giant imperial edifice.

The terms of Caracalla: how to get there?

Go to the opera house, which is now on the site of the bath complex, you can by metro or shuttle bus. The address of the thermal baths, located in the center of the capital of Italy, is: Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 52. The entrance to the ruins is a few euros, but the visit to the opera will have to fork out, because the cost will depend on the status of the performer. But the scale of the extraordinary beauty of the spectacle, which takes place in the open air at night, is really worth it.

The ancient structure, despite the ruined state, evokes the sincere interest of foreign tourists, who admire the heritage of Ancient Rome. Constructed in the time of the emperor with the sonorous name of Caracalla, the terms amaze with the grandeur and scale of all who touched a piece of the architectural miracle.