Of course, some of the Fathers condemned public bathing as immoral, but Turkish Daily News wants us to know ….
Historic Byzantine bath open after centuries
A 1,400-year-old Byzantine bath that was accidentally uncovered five years ago by a shepherd, will be available for use after restoration work is completed in June, reported the Anatolia news agency. The bath that was used by traders and rich people in the ancient coastal city of Termera in 4 BC will be used again after hundreds of centuries. The historical artifacts found during the excavation will be on display at an open-air museum to be established at the site.
Four rooms, a water source, water canals, a well and seven independent sections of the Byzantine bath have been completely uncovered, which is situated on property belonging to Aspat Beach Club and owned by businessman Murat Balkan. The restoration work on the historic bath, registered as “Byzantium Bath” by the Muğla Committee for the Preservation of Cultural and Natural Beings, will be completed in June. The chairman of the excavation team, archaeologist Nurcan Çilesiz, said the most important cultural treasure of the region had been uncovered, adding that the Byzantine bath would be Turkey’s first and only artifact to be used just like it was in the past.
“1,400-year-old”
“used by traders and rich people in the ancient coastal city of Termera in 4 BC”
“used again after hundreds of centuries”
Huh!?!? Something got badly garbled in translation.
…adding that the Byzantine bath would be Turkey’s first and only artifact to be used just like it was in the past.
Yes, you know, since the churches are now museums, shopping malls, and mosques….
Lord, have mercy.
Does this mean co-ed bathing or male-only?
Here’s what Everett Ferguson says in his excellent Backgrounds of Early Christianity: “Some baths had special hours reserved for women, and a few cities had a women’s bath. In general a reputable woman did not appear at the baths when men were present, but conventions on this varied, and not all women were concerned.”
Mike,
I too like Ferguson, and use him as a source, but he is probably mistaken in his assertion that the baths were generally segregated. Here is the evidence against his position:
1. Clement of Alexandria (Paedagogus 3.5): “The bath are openly promiscuous to men and women…”
2. Cyprian of Carthage (On the Dress of Virgins 19) “What of those who frequent promiscuous baths…who disgracefully behold naked men, and are seen naked by men…”
3. Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, and Alexander Severus all issued decrees against coed bathing, evidence of the ubiquitousness of the practice, since no emperor would issue decrees against something no one did.
There were some single sex baths, and some baths with separate hours for men and women. Some larger baths even had separate rooms for men and women. But it was evidently quite common for men and women to bathe together, and immoral acts sometimes resulted.