Masada (Israel): Bathhouse Heated Room Hypocaust System
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Authors
Issue Date
5/22/2016
Type
Image
Language
Keywords
Judea , Israel , Dead Sea , Jewish-Roman War , First Jewish Revolt , Siege , Herod the Great , Fortress , Mesa , Hypocaust , Caldarium , Bathhouse , Bath
Alternative Title
Abstract
Description
The caldarium (or hot bath) in Roman bathhouses was heated by raising the floor on short pillars (pillae) and circulating hot air heated by a furance though the hollow spaces. In this bath house it appears that the steam was also forced behind the walls. This photo shows a few of the small pillars that held up the floor as well as the ridges on the wall where the pipes for the wall heating stem would have been located. The bathhouse at Masada was square, but had a niche on one end of the pool. The room also had a barrel vaulted roof.