Museum of the Baths of Diocletian- This is one of the four buildings that house the National Roman Museum. Other places are as follows: Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Palazzo Altemps, Crypt Balbi. Post about the Museum of Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, where, through the route of the museum, one can relive the history, myths and daily life in Rome.
Initially Baths of Diocletian were a huge thermal complex imperial era, built between 298 and 306 AD, which covered an area of more than 13,000 m2.
According to legend, the baths were built by Christians condemned to death. They accommodated more than 3,000 bathers at a time, approximately twice the number of people for which the Baths of Caracalla were designed. It took 10 years to build them, compared to the 5 years it took to build the Baths of Caracalla. At the terms there were three thousand baths and three spacious pools with clean, clear water.
In imperial times, the baths were open to men as well as women and children, and even a very modest fee of one quadrant was sometimes covered by the generosity of the emperor or some rich man who could take on the entire cost of visiting the baths for a period of one day to one year. The Romans went to the thermae to meet others, to walk and chat, some to play ball and other games, others to experience more intense physical activity such as wrestling or to watch others do it, and of course to get cool. in summer and warm in winter. The cold baths were in the frigidarium, a cool room in the bathhouse; there was also a warm room, or tepidarium, and a heated room, the calidarium, where there were warm baths and hot steam to induce perspiration, as in our modern Turkish baths. The room was even hotter, laconic, used mainly by the sick. Warmth was provided by a fierce fire under the floor, kindled by slaves, using large amounts of wood.
Bathers could enjoy any or all of them in turn and in any other order. Now little remains of the former glory of the term, but they still excite our impressions. The same feelings overwhelm at the sight.
Today it is the site of the National Roman Museum, founded in 1898. Its archaeological heritage is one of the richest in the world, it comes from various collections, and partly consists of finds found in the baths. On the territory of the thermal complex, Michelangelo skillfully placed the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in the Renaissance style, which Pope Pius IV wished in 1561.
In the monastery courtyard, created by Michelangelo, more than 400 sculptures of all types belonging to Roman masters are exhibited (architectural finds, marble groups and statues, sarcophagi, donation altars).
The museum section at the Baths of Diocletian was conceived to introduce the beginning of Roman history.
It contains an extensive epigraphic section, showing the emergence of the Latin language through texts written in various media dating back to the period from the 8th century BC. until the 4th century AD
And the terms of Trajan.
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This is what the terms looked like on the layout.
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The layout quite accurately corresponds to the plan of the thermae depicted in an old engraving.
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The thermal structures accommodated up to 3200 people; the gardens were decorated with fountains and pavilions. The water supply of the term was carried out through the Marcius aqueduct.
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The decoration of the term was also luxurious: marble lining, unique mosaic floors, galleries with statues of gods and murmuring fountains.
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Baths served not only as baths, they served as a place of rest, communication, a center of cultural and social life of the city. Entrance to them was allowed to all free citizens. Gardens with pavilions, fountains, marble sculptures were laid out on the territory of the complex, there were also meeting rooms, an amphitheater, a library and a gym.
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The Baths of Diocletian in its modern form is Republic Square, the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri was erected on the site of the central hall, some rooms are occupied by the National Roman Museum with a collection of Roman and Greek art. One of the round halls of the term was rebuilt into the Church of San Bernardo alle Terme.
Part of the ruins in 1889 was rebuilt as a museum.
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Thermal, or Diocletian's, window - a window that is divided into three sections by two vertical racks (multipliers) - the central one is wider and the side ones are narrower. Such windows are typical of the Roman baths of Diocletian. During the Renaissance, the great Italian architect Andrea Palladio revived thermal windows by reworking the antique form into the so-called Venetian window. Since then, the windows of Diocletian have firmly entered the arsenal of techniques of Palladianism and its successors.
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Republic Square
Until the 1950s, the square was called Exedra. This name is still in use among local residents. The old name comes from the large exedra of the terms of Diocletian - a semicircular deep niche with a half-dome. The form of the ancient exedra is repeated in the colonnade that limits the area from the southwest. Semicircular palazzos with porticos were erected in 1887-1898. designed by the architect Gaetano Koch. The façade of the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri overlooks the square. In the center of the square is the Naiad Fountain, created by the sculptor Mario Rutelli in 1901.
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Naiad Fountain [41.9030117N 12.4984825E]
In the last decade of his pontificate, Pope Pius IX commissioned and financed the reconstruction ancient aqueduct Marcia, which was badly damaged by the Goths in the sixth century, and has since remained unused. The construction of a new aqueduct was entrusted in 1868 to the company "Acqua Pia Antica Marcia SpA", which for a long time was one of the main suppliers of the city's water supply. The aqueduct was planned to end with a large fountain. The first version of the fountain was built in 1870, slightly different from where it is now. It was a simple large round pool, from which a large number of jets of water directed towards the center. The composition ended with five vertical jets of water, the central one being much higher. A few years later, in 1888, the architect Alessandro Guerriri completely changed appearance fountain. It began to consist of three concentric circular cups at different heights, placed on an octagonal base. There was an attempt to install four lions, but it was not successful, and the project was abandoned. The next project by the sculptor Mario Rutelli was built and opened in 1901. The naiad fountain was adorned with four naked female figures in bronze depicting naiads: the Nymph of the Lakes holding a swan, the Nymph of the Rivers lying on a monster of the rivers, the Nymph of the Underground Waters lying on the back of a dragon, and the Nymph of the Oceans riding a seahorse.
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In 1912, finally, the fountain received its final appearance with the installation in the center of the Glauco group - a naked male figure, capturing a dolphin and symbolizing the dominion of man over natural force. From the mouth of the dolphin comes the central jet of the fountain. The work was fully opened in 1914.
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National Museum of Rome [41.9030157N 12.4984127E]
The National Roman Museum was opened in 1889. The National Roman Museum includes the Thermae Museum, which houses a collection of famous ancient sculptures: "Throne of Ludovisi", "Discobolus", "Fist Fighter", "Gall Killing His Wife" and many others that were previously in the baths of Diocletian and Caracalla.
14. Entrance to the museum
The museum currently has one of the richest collections of ancient sculpture. In the halls of the ancient baths of Diocletian, collections of inscriptions and sculptures are presented.
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19. Collection of antique masks
Museum garden
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On the territory of the term in front of the entrance to the museum, you can also see some very original sculptures.
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Many ancient sculptures, tombstones, masks and other ancient exhibits are exhibited in the halls of the museum.
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large cloister
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In the center of a large cloister among green spaces, various animals look out for something.
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Small cloister
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The National Roman Museum today is a complex of five objects dedicated to Roman history: the Baths of Diocletian, Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, Crypt Balbi and Museo Palatino. This museum is considered one of the best in terms of exposition, organization of work, and convenience for visitors. One by one entrance ticket you can visit 4 sites: Baths of Diocletian, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Palazzo Altemps, Balbi crypt. The ticket is valid for 3 days.
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In 1563, by order of the pope, Michelangelo carried out the reconstruction of the ruins of the central hall of the baths. The ruins were turned into the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli. The church is very interesting, with in-depth study of astronomy. It will be dedicated to a separate post, which will be published in the near future.
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San Bernardo alle Terme [41.9036226N 12.4944699E]
San Bernardo alle Terme - monastery church of the Cistercian order, dedicated to St. Bernard. Initially, the church building may have served as a spheristerium (hall for playing ball), which is part of the Baths of Diocletian. In 1593, the niece of Pope Julius III bought this plot of land and donated it to the construction of the monastery. Its construction continued until 1598, the rebuilding of the church was completed in 1600.
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The structure of the dome of the church is similar to the Pantheon, but much smaller in diameter (only 22 m).
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Since 1670, the church has been a titular church, in the same year the first restoration work was carried out: the interior decoration was updated, an organ was built in, the choir was improved, a fresco depicting St. Bernard. The last restoration took place in 2000. In the niches of the church are 8 statues of saints by Camillo Mariani.
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51. Main altar
Altar of St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Altar of St. Bernard of Clairvaux is lavishly decorated with sculptures with ancient green columns. The altarpiece "The Vision of the Saints Flying in Ecstasy to Meet Jesus Being Taken Down from the Cross" by the Italian artist Giovanni Odazzi replaced another canvas by Thomas Laureti.
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Altar of St. Abbot Roberio
Altar of St. Abbot Roberio, a pupil of the Holy Order of the Cistercians, is decorated similarly to the altar of St. Bernard. The painting by Giovanni Odazzi depicts the Virgin and Child, St. John, St. Joseph and St. Roberto. Madonna puts a ring on her finger, a symbol of protection and devotion.
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Burial place of Johann Friedrich Oberbeck, leader of the Nazarenes, painter, graphic artist and illustrator.
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In addition, very close to the baths of Diocletian, you can see a couple of attractions.
Obelisk Dogali [41.9021613N 12.4974632E]
This is one of two obelisks brought from Heliopolis. The second is now installed in the Boboli Gardens in Florence. Initially, the monument was brought to the temple of Isis in Rome. Found in 1883 by Rodolfo Lanziani near Santa Maria sopra Minerva. Currently, the monument is dedicated in honor of the battle near Dogali. The location of the modern obelisk changed from the square in front of Termini Station to the current one in 1924.
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Statue of John Paul II work by Oliviero Rainaldi titled Conversazioni (conversations) installed March 18, 2011 . Behind the "back" of the monument is the central bus station of Rome (Termini station).
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Finally, for a better understanding, I suggest watching a video with a three-dimensional model of the ancient baths of Diocletian.
Baths of Diocletian. About the popularity of the term in ancient world evidenced by the fact that, for example, in the famous baths of Diocletian, about 3,500 people could bathe.
The use of thermae for hydrotherapy has been known in the Mediterranean since ancient times. In particular, the Greeks used thermal waters. This is evidenced by the mass of archaeological finds, literary and scientific evidence. Bathing in hot waters was valued by the Greeks primarily because they believed in their divine origin. It is no coincidence that temples were built in the areas of thermal springs, such as the temple of Apollo at Delphi or the temple of Olympus. Despite the fact that the ancient peoples were wrong about the origin of thermal springs, they were right about one thing: the water from them really has a positive effect on the human body. Benefits of hot springs and mineral waters Hippocrates praised in his treatise The Use of Fluids.
To this day, the baths of Dioctetian have survived in a fairly intact form, having undergone, however, reconstruction in 1566. One of the round halls was rebuilt into the Church of San Bernardo alle Terme
Human life is unthinkable without water. Water is a source of life-giving moisture, with its help we cook food and, most importantly, after hard work, we perform ablution, which brings us freshness, health and vigor to the body. It is difficult to say with certainty who, when and under what circumstances the first bath was invented. A detailed written description of the baths was compiled by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus in the 5th century BC. e. He assumed that the first baths arose among different peoples almost simultaneously. One of the first to introduce the cult of baths were the Egyptians. These baths acted as medical institutions, since in Ancient Egypt many diseases were treated with water. Egyptian papyri contain many recipes that helped women and men get rid of the signs of aging. Baths were the main means of rejuvenation and healing. The Greeks, in turn, adopted many designs for the construction of baths.
Greek baths at the beginning of their appearance had the name "laconicum", from the city of Lakonika, from where bath procedures spread throughout Greece.
It is impossible not to note in our story a great admirer of the baths of Herod - the king of Judea. His most famous building was the Northern Palace built in Masada. The baths of Masada were decorated with mosaics and marble and amazed with their luxury. They consisted of a dressing room, a room with a pool (it was also called a cool room), a warm room and a hot steam room (caldarium) with a double floor. The arrangement of the Caldarium room itself was somewhat reminiscent of a modern Finnish sauna. The king also had a special room for anointing the body with healing oils and incense.
In ancient Rome, baths arose according to the Greek model of baths, they were called baths (antique bath in Greece, with big houses). The first Baths in Rome were built by the emperor Agrippa (25-19 BC) and transferred to the use of the Roman population.
And the Roman emperor Andrian, in turn, made the culture of visiting the term massive. He was the ancestor not only of the mass construction of public baths, but also the founder of the standard construction of public buildings. The methods and systems of heating in its baths still arouse the admiration of modern specialists. Water supply systems of different temperatures for pools are striking in their complexity. The popularity of the baths in the ancient world is evidenced by the fact that, for example, in the famous baths of Diocletian, about 3,500 people could bathe.
Ruins of the Baths of Diocletian
But if the Greeks were one of the first nations to appreciate the hot springs, then the Romans were the ones who glorified this means of relaxation and treatment. The ancestors of modern Italians did this through the mass construction of public baths. So, only in Rome the number of public and private baths exceeded 800 pieces. In general, the Romans tried to build themes wherever they discovered thermal springs.
Baths of Caracalla
The most famous thermal structures that have survived to this day are the Baths of Caracalla and the Baths of Diocletian. Looking at these buildings, it is easy to imagine how famous personalities rested in the baths: Pliny the Elder, Catullus, Vitruvius, Tibull, Titus Livius, Horace, Martial and other prominent figures. The latter, by the way, dedicate a number of your epigrams to the terms. It is noteworthy that despite the big names mentioned above, the cost of visiting the baths was not very high. So they were available to all inhabitants of the Roman Empire.
Baths of Diocletian is a building that architecturally repeats the forms of the whole city. It was erected in ancient Rome and served as a bath. At one time, 3,200 people could fit there.
Diocletian, as one of the ancient Roman emperors, dreamed of delighting his guests with luxurious festivities. It was here, at the end of the 3rd century AD. there were entertainment events, rich feasts and absolutely any entertainment that one could think of. And for the curious, it was possible to chat in the libraries, which were located right there.
The baths of Diocletian were built in such a way that on any day the water was heated by the warm rays of the sun, and where necessary it remained cold. Until the 6th century, the legendary ancient Roman water supply functioned here, until it was destroyed by the Goths.
Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri (Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri), dedicated to the Virgin, angels and martyrs in Rome. Located on Republic Square.
Later, the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli was founded here on the ruins. The baths were reconstructed in 1563 by order of the pope. All work was directed by Michelangelo. By the way, he was 87 at the time.
The Catholic Church, with its high morals at that time on the ruins of an ancient Roman bath, where people indulged in all possible sins, from drinking wine to love games - this is really irony.
Roman physicians, including Galen, Pliny and Celsus, also spoke about the healing effect of thermal springs. They tried to find a connection between diseases and the chemical and physical properties of waters from thermal springs.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, many of its structures began to fall into disrepair. Naturally, this also affected the terms, since the growing Christianity had a negative attitude towards these places, considering them inappropriate.
In the Middle Ages, thermal springs were used only for medicinal purposes. And in the XIII century, their scientific study began. Many scientists were interested in the properties and qualities of water: Michele Savonarola, Pietro d'Abano and Pietro da Eboli. The latter, in one of his treatises, described in detail the healing possibilities of 35 thermal springs in the vicinity of Pozzuoli. Gradually, from the centers of treatment, thermal springs began to regain the status of centers of recreation and social life, acquiring resort towns. Representatives of the upper strata of society in Italy spent whole days at the thermal springs.
Nolly's plan, which depicts the baths of Diocletian
The modern popularity of thermal springs in the post-war years began to gain strength again. The recognition of the real health-improving effect of thermae made it possible to include them in the national sanitary system and thereby expand the methods of treatment for the entire population.
sources
http://blog.design-class.com.ua
http://www.uadream.com
Baths of Diocletian ( Terme di Diocleziano) were built between 298 and 306, becoming the crowning achievement of the engineering thought of their time, and represented a colossal thermal complex with an area of more than 13,000 square meters. meters, the largest ever built in Rome. According to legend, they were built by Christians condemned to death.
The terms occupied the space between, Viminal and. Their size can be estimated by walking around the objects built in their place. This is the basilica, the National Roman Museum, the basilica. Rome's main station, Termini, is also named after the baths of Diocletian.
The thermal facilities were located on a fenced artificial platform. They included fountains, pavilions, libraries, meeting rooms. In the center of the complex were the baths themselves, built according to the standard plan that had become by that time - a central axis with symmetrically located rooms.
1 - Caldarium, 2 - Tepidarium, 3 - Frigidarium, 4 - Pool, 5 - Palestra, 6 - Main entrance, 7 - Exedra The simple facades of the thermal baths, covered with "marbled" plaster, were enlivened by scanty mosaic panels at the entrances. Such simplicity of decorative finishes and a gradual increase in volume to central hall emphasized the grandeur of the complex and distinguished it from places of worship. The absence of curvilinear rooms and, consequently, the diversity of interior forms is the influence of the East.
The Baths of Diocletian accommodated more than 3,000 visitors at a time. There were 3000 individual baths and three pools with the purest water. Cold baths were in the frigidarium, warm baths in the tepidarium, and hot baths in the caldarium. The hottest room - laconic - was used mainly by the sick. The heat was created by fire under the floor, supported by slaves. Solar heat was also used to heat water. Water came through a diversion from the Marcius aqueduct.
The baths were open to all residents, including women and children, and were completely affordable. But even a modest entrance fee was often covered by the generosity of the emperor or some rich person, who took on the cost of visiting the baths by citizens for a period of one day to a year.
Visitors came to the baths not only to wash. All sorts of entertainment, feasts and other events were held within their walls. Here, for example, there was a library in which philosophical debates took place, and in the gymnasiums one could engage in sports games and physical exercises. In addition, here it was simply possible to get warm in winter and cool in summer.
The complex functioned until the 6th century and began to fall into disrepair and collapse with the advent of the Goths, who blocked the aqueducts to deprive the Romans of water. And only in the 16th century, under the guidance of the great 87-year-old sculptor and architect Michelangelo, a basilica was built on the ruins of the tepidarium, with the preservation of its walls. Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri,so named in honor of the Christian martyrs who died during the construction of the terms.
Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri A number of rooms of the term became part of the museum, and one of the round lobbies was converted into another basilica -San Bernardo alle Terme.The remains of another such vestibule can be seen between Via Viminale and Piazza dei Cinquecento.
Basilica of San Bernardo alle Terme The decision to establish the National Roman Museum was made in 1889. Its section at the Baths of Diocletian was conceived as an introduction to the beginning of Roman history.The exposition of the museum is the very walls of the terms, antique sculptures, household items, weapons of the ancient Romans, Etruscans and other peoples inhabiting the Apennine Peninsula. The rarest exhibits are the sarcophagi of ancient and Christian Rome. An extensive epigraphic section demonstrates the emergence and development of the Latin language in various media from the period of the 8th century BC. - 4th century AD
The Romans were specialists not only in military affairs and art. Built in the 3rd century AD, the Baths of Diocletian (Terme di Diocleziano) were truly the crowning creation of engineering thought of that time. The technical equipment of the baths was far ahead of its time. In terms of convenience and quality of execution, the terms can compete with modern SPA complexes of our time. The baths owe their name to the Roman emperor Gaius Aurelius Diocletian, the same one who at the end of his reign renounced power and retired to his small homeland to grow cabbage.
The area allotted for construction was 30 hectares. At the same time, more than three thousand people could take water procedures in the baths, for whom individual baths were installed and public steam rooms were equipped. Three large swimming pools have also been built for visitors. Water was supplied to the baths and pools in a cocurrent flow through a complex design of a water pipe connected to a branch of the Marcius aqueduct.
The townspeople (and the entrance was allowed to all free citizens) not only bathed, but also spent time culturally in the gardens with sculptures, attended performances in the amphitheater, read books in the library and did physical exercises in the gym.
Unfortunately, by the 7th century, the Baths of Diocletian fell into disrepair and gradually collapsed. In the middle of the 16th century, the great sculptor and architect Michelangelo built on the remains of the bath a new Renaissance style term and a monastery.
Therapeutic properties Therm
Bathing in warm water rich in mineral salts has been considered a healing event since ancient times. Hydrotherapy in thermal springs, according to Hippocrates, had a positive effect on the general physical condition of a person. Roman baths received special value due to the supply of water of various temperatures to the baths. Surprisingly, the heating of the water by the sun's rays was organized, while the water in the shaded areas remained cool. Roman physicians noted the special chemical and physical properties of spring water, which had a beneficial effect on the health of the Romans.
Grand Thermae today
Today, the Baths of Diocletian are an interesting architectural monument, divided into three parts, surrounded by gardens of Republic Square.
Part of the territory was given over to the main exposition of the National Roman Museum, or the Thermae Museum. The exposition of the museum is the walls of the terms themselves, ancient sculptures (including the creations of Michelangelo himself) and other objects from the life of ancient Rome. Another part of the Baths of Diocletian was rebuilt into the Basilica of San Bernardo alle Terme. The rest of the buildings are in ruins. modern tourists visiting Rome for study and admiration.
Travel and visiting conditions
The baths are located on Via Enrico de Nicola, house number 79. The best way to get to the thermae and the museum - use the Roman metro. You need to get off at the Republic (Repubblica) or Termini (Termini) stations, then follow the signs to walk a few hundred meters. Another way of travel: buses No. 82, 61, 62, 60, 492 to the Cernaia stop.
Entrance for foreigners is paid, tickets are sold at the box office. The cost of getting acquainted with the terms is 8.5-12 euros, depending on the number of sights to see. For a maximum cost of 12 euros, tourists get the opportunity to explore Thermae in full within a few days. Visitation for tourists is allowed on all days except Monday, from 9:00 to 19:45, ticket offices close half an hour before closing time.
Not far from the term is a baroque church.
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