It’s the strangest feeling to be surrounded by senators and looking down on Roman baths, and probably the only time I’ll be in the company of Julius Caesar, Hadrian and Constantine the Great, simultaneously.
Aquae Sulis was the Roman name for Bath, named for the waters of the goddess Sulis. This natural phenomenon has caused 240,000 gallons of hot water, at 46C, to rise on this spot daily for thousands of years. Spa water has been used for curative purposes for 2,000 years, originally involving bathing, and then in the form of drinking water from the late 17th century. This Walkthrough will take you step by step through the complex.
The Roman Baths are below modern street level and comprise the Sacred Spring, Roman Temple and Bath House, with finds from the baths carefully preserved and displayed in the museum. After the ‘Friends, Romans, countrymen…’ moment on the imposing terrace you descend stairs to the interior, glimpsing the Sacred Spring through glass windows.
The Romans identified Sulis with their goddess Minerva. It is likely that her gilt bronze statue would have stood within her temple, beside the Sacred Spring, and may well date back to the first century AD. Gilt bronze sculptures are very rare finds in Roman Britain. This head has six layers of gilding, two by a process known as fire gilding and the later four applied as gold leaf.
The Temple pediment and Gorgon’s Head is likely to date from the same period. It would have been supported by four large, fluted columns. Another fascinating detail of Roman life are the 130 curse tablets, which would have been rolled up and thrown into the Spring. They were petitioning the goddess for justice or revenge for petty crimes, including theft of their possessions from the baths.
Every effort has been made to turn the Roman Baths into a Spectacle . Animated projections bring to life the cold plunge pool and the heated rooms. Evidence of the hypocaust system the Romans used is clearly visible in this amazing subterranean world.
The spa waters contain 43 minerals, and are said to have a distinctive taste. You can sample them from a fountain in the west baths, or from the Georgian Pump House, next door.
Pop over and see Debbie’s extraordinary owl, and don’t forget that Thursday’s Special. This week Paula weaves her magic on Venice.
restlessjo 
We didn’t get to see the spectacle when we visited but I guess that was too long ago. I probably would prefer it without the show anyway but I guess it makes it easier to understand what really happened there in ancient times. For sure Jerome would have found it more interesting as well. I tried to drink the water and wish I hadn’t…never to be tempted again!
LikeLike
I think that so many people visit that they have tried to extend the attraction to accommodate more, Vanessa. I don’t think they have spoilt it by doing so. It is an inspiring site. Good to know I didn’t miss out with the water. 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Great, Jo! Thanks!
LikeLike
I don’t know if you got my comment Paula? Probably in Spam. Having WP issues xx
LikeLike
I’ve found you now. Why would anyone spam you. WP sometimes really gets on my nerves.
LikeLike
🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Thought I was the only one with a privilege pass to WP spam 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous place, I am due to visit it in June with my cousins who are visiting me from Brazil. Should we book the tickets in advance or ok to buy at the door? Great photos and history detail : )
LikeLike
You won’t be disappointed, Gilda. Have a look at the Walkthrough link. It was around 11am on a Tuesday and there were no queues, but it was pretty busy inside the museum. It might be much busier in June so I would think it worth booking. 🙂 🙂 Thanks, hon!
LikeLike
I did not realize they’d turned it into a ‘spectacle.’Thanks for all the background. We visited almost ten years ago (and I took many of the same photos!) but certainly didn’t absorb all the detail.
LikeLike
There was a lot of detail to absorb, Bunty, but the museum was quite busy so I focused more on the waters. The site of the spring is magnificent and I don’t think they’ve spoilt it. Obviously a lot of people want to visit. 🙂
LikeLike
Magnificent place. The ancient ambiance persists. Drinking the water, though. Not sure about that.
LikeLike
Instant gippy tummy? 🙂 🙂 I stuck my nose in the Pump House but it was busy and I was headed for home. The baths, though, were superb, Julie.
LikeLike
I wonder whether anything ever came from the curses. I’m surprised curious Jo did not taste the water, or did you? I wonder whether the distinctive taste is coppery or sulphury. I’m going to have to go to find out! Are you allowed to bathe in them like the Romans did? Would be too crowded and ruin the preservation of them, probably.
LikeLike
No, you can’ t bathe in them, Liesbet, but there is a rooftop thermal spa nearby which looks superb. If I’d had time and my costume I’d have given it a whirl. 🙂 🙂 I’m told the water is absolutely disgusting, but I might have been tempted to a little elixir of life.
LikeLike
‘The spa waters have a distinctive taste’…. How delicately put Jo – they’re foul! Thanks for the virtual wander, a nice reminder of a place visited some years ago. What, no cake to end the trip….
LikeLike
Wouldn’t that be greedy, Sue? I had my cake on Monday 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, Jo,, perhaps it would!!
LikeLike
😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooops, I’ve said the wrong thing….go on love, have a cake! Indulge yourself!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re a wonderful history teacher, Jo. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos!
LikeLike
It’s wonderful to have something like this to share, Jill. It’s incredible to me that those waters have been rising all this time. 🙂 🙂 Thanks, darlin!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your post sent me to some early black and white photos I have of the baths. I visited here on my honeymoon as we spent 3 nights in Bath on our touring holiday. Nostalgia, how it cheers.
LikeLike
No WP problems today, Mari? 🙂 🙂 I’d like to see those black and whites. Are they on your site? Honeymoon- what a lovely memory. 🙂
LikeLike
How wonderful! Haven’t been there for about 30 years…need to take Big Man!
LikeLike
It was my first visit. We were last in Bath when our son was small and there were other distractions. 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d love to visit sometime, your photos are very good, thank you.
LikeLike
It’s an amazing place. I know you’d enjoy it 🙂 🙂 Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This came just in perfect time to read with my breakfast! 😀 The Baths definitely have an aura of the older lost world. I’ve been to a couple of places that have animated projections and after my initial scepticism I feel they work very well, as seems to be the case here! Oh, not sure I’d dare to taste the water…I’ve been to the Roman Palace of Fishbourne, near Chichester which has the most spectacular mosaics in what I assumed were the bathroom and I wondered would be something similar here. Not by the looks for it. Have a lovely day, Jo! 😀
LikeLike
If you look on the Walkthrough link, Annika, it does show some mosaics but I confess I didn’t see them. The museum area was quite busy and I preferred to be outdoors. Really, an awe inspiring site though. 🙂 🙂 I’ve been chasing rhododendrons today. Another lovely occupation. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay…I have go ask..’chasing rhododendrons’?? I’m imagining a Day of the Triffids scenario with rhododendrons charging madly around the countryside!!😀
LikeLike
Not quite! 🙂 🙂 Belsay Hall has an enormous quarry in the gardens and the rhodies climb the walls. I mostly stay on the ground and stare. 🙂 Good thing we went yesterday. It is extremely wet today. Drove me to booking our next Algarve flights. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t expect such dimensions ….
All extraordinary ,both for the place and your captures…
Thank you, Jo!
LikeLike
It really is an inspiring sight, Anna. It does suffer from tourists, as these places sadly do, but you can’t blame anyone from wanting to see it. Hugs, darlin! 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Never been looks very photographable is it still in use or more like a museam piece and does the water smell sulphuric?
LikeLike
The water didn’t smell but bathing is not allowed. There is a roof top thermal spa nearby which looks great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fascinating place Jo snd terrific photos.
LikeLike
I’ve never been anywhere like it, Miriam. Despite the tourists it had atmosphere. 🙂 🙂 Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure! Love to visit one day. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like you were not brave enough to sample the waters . . . if so sensible woman! I drank some years ago, didn’t manage anything more than a sip, next time I think I’ll try bathing instead.
LikeLike
To be fair, I didn’t notice the fountain in the west bath, and I barely had time to stick my nose in the Pump House, just out of curiosity. Elixir of life? 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well I’m only going to get an extra 5minutes then for the amount I partook!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
👏👏👏
LikeLike
🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Fascinating history and wonderful photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s an incredible place, Cindy, and I can’t believe it’s taken me all these years to get to see it. Better late than never. You would love it! 🙂 🙂 Thanks so much for your kind words.
LikeLike
What a beautiful colour the waters are!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they really are. 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person