Public Baths and Bathing Habits in Late Antiquity: A Study of the Evidence from Italy, North Africa and Palestine A.D. 285-700

Author:   Sadi Marechal
Publisher:   Brill
Volume:   6
ISBN:  

9789004418721


Pages:   504
Publication Date:   23 January 2020
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   In stock   Availability explained
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Public Baths and Bathing Habits in Late Antiquity: A Study of the Evidence from Italy, North Africa and Palestine A.D. 285-700


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Overview

In this book Sadi Marechal examines the survival, transformation and eventual decline of Roman public baths and bathing habits in Italy, North Africa and Palestine during Late Antiquity. Through the analysis of archaeological remains, ancient literature, inscriptions and papyri, the continued importance of bathhouses as social hubs within the urban fabric is demonstrated, thus radically altering common misconceptions of their decline through the rise of Christianity and elite seclusion. Persistent ideas about health and hygiene, as well as perpetuating ideas of civic self-esteem, drove people to build, restore and praise these focal points of daily life when other classical buildings were left to crumble.

Full Product Details

Author:   Sadi Marechal
Publisher:   Brill
Imprint:   Brill
Volume:   6
Weight:   1.368kg
ISBN:  

9789004418721


ISBN 10:   9004418725
Pages:   504
Publication Date:   23 January 2020
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In stock   Availability explained
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.

Table of Contents

Foreword List of Illustrations Abbreviations Introduction Why Baths Again? General Aims and Outline of the Research Geographical Framework Chronological Framework Methodology and Sources The Structure of the Book Notes on Terminology Notes on Abbreviations 1 General Introduction to Roman Baths and Earlier Research on Late Antique Baths General Introduction to Roman Baths and Bathing Habits Technology of the Baths The Functioning of the Heating System Water Management of Baths Decoration Popularity of Bathhouses Earlier Research on Late Antique Baths 2 Written Evidence of Baths Late Antique Literature Legal Documents Epigraphic Evidence Papyrological Evidence 3 Archaeological Evidence Introduction Rome Ostia Cuicul Thamugadi Carthage Sufetula Ptolemais Scythopolis Archaeological Evidence of Early Hammams 4 Continuity and Change in Late Antique Public Baths and Bathing Habits Architecture Bath Technology Public Baths and Their Contexts Decay or Continuity of Baths and Bathing Habits Epilogue-The Transition to the Hammams General Concluding Remarks and Prospects for Future Research Appendix 1: Late Antique Inscriptions Mentioning Baths Introduction Inscriptions from the Italian Peninsula Inscriptions from North Africa Inscriptions from Palestina Appendix 2: Late Antique Papyri Mentioning Baths Appendix 3: Lists of Late Antique Baths, Possible Baths and Continued Use of Baths Glossary Bibliography Primary Sources Modern Sources Gazetteer Introduction Key to the General Plans Baths in the Italian Peninsula, Sicily and Sardinia Baths in Roman North Africa New Construction Baths in Cyrenaica Baths in Egypt Ecclesiastical Baths Fortress Baths Baths in Palestina Index Late Antique Archaeology

Reviews

This book will be a welcome reference resource to scholars interested in the intersection between society and the urban built environment in the Late Antique Roman world. [...] This is a work of reference which interested academics will find to be a welcome resource for understanding Late Antique built environments. Marechal pays strict attention to space and time and casts a very wide net for the types of data catalogued in this volume. The eight urban case studies in particular offer a comprehensive view of Late Antique cities as spaces that constantly changed alongside the needs of their residents. Marechal keeps his readers cognizant that this study covers well-trodden ground-indeed the introduction even opens with the question 'Why Baths Again?'-but the study's strengths lie in the meticulous manner in which the data has been collected. By assembling data from hundreds of archaeological reports, standardizing representations of their plans, supplementing them with maps and colour photographs, and summarizing their findings in English, this volume significantly increases accessibility for non-specialist scholars to all manner of evidence for one of the most defining features of life in Late Antique cities . Douglas Whalin, Bryn Mawr Classical Review, June 2021.


Author Information

Sadi Marechal, Ph.D. (2016), Ghent University, is post-doctoral researcher in Roman archaeology of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). He has published articles and book chapters on baths and bathing habits in the Roman Empire.

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