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Regio I - Insula XIX - Terme Piccole (I,XIX,5)
(Small Baths)

This tiny bath (c. 24 x 16 metres, area c. 385 square metres) was built in late antiquity in the south-west corner of the Warehouse of the Grain Measurers (I,XIX,4). It is 0.45-0.80 m. above the present street level. It was accessible only from the "warehouse" (grain measuring centre) to the east.

A small staircase leads to frigidarium E in the south part, with three semicircular basins. To the north are the heated rooms. At the north end is caldarium A, also with three basins. There is another small staircase in the back wall of the eastern basin. Behind the caldarium is a furnace (H). Remains of plaster can be seen on most of the walls. In the basins are remains of marble revetment.

Hadrianic bricks were reused here. Heres has dated the baths to c. 450-500 AD (opus latericium), with additions from c. 490-550 AD (opus vittatum). That makes this one of the latest buildings in Ostia.



Plan of the baths. From Heres 1982, fig. 78.

Photos



The north part of the baths, seen from the south.
Photo: Jan Theo Bakker.


[jthb - 29-Apr-2022]