The Baths of Caracalla 1

The Thermae Antoninianae, one of the largest and best preserved thermal complexes of antiquity, were entirely built by the Emperor Caracalla since AD 212. The Baths were erected in the southern part of Rome. The thermal complex was planned over three large sloping terraces, to camber the different levels between the Aventine Hill and the Camene Valley. 9000 workers were employed daily for approximately five years in order to create a huge platform of about 337×328 meters. The baths were inaugurated in AD 216 but they were completed after the death of Caracalla (AD 217). Water was brought to the bathhouse by a new branch of the Aqua Marcia aqueduct, called Aqua Nova Antoniniana: on the southern side of the Baths the reservoirs – partially preserved – guaranteed the necessary water supply. After several restorations, the Thermal complex was abandoned after the siege of Rome in AD 537, when Vitige, King of the Goths, severed the aqueducts with the intention of cutting the water supply to Rome.

Opus Quadratum is the oldest construction technique. It was formed by large squared stone blocks, superimposed to form parallel rows.

Opus Incertum is a building technique that used stones of different shapes and dimensions, creating an irregular pattern.

Opus Reticulatum is a building technique where diamond shaped tufa or limestone blocks were used as the cladding of a cement core forming a lattice pattern.

Opus Latericium is formed by rows of overlapping bricks which enclose a cement based core. This is the building technique used for all the walls of Caracalla’s Baths.

 

Source: Information panels of the Baths.