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Introduction Baths Religion |
In 1953-1954 Louis Blondel excavated baths near the church of John the Baptist, at some 75 meters from the river (nr. 5 on the general plan). They were investigated once more in 1998.
The church of John the Baptist. Photo: Wikimedia, Vaquins.The excavated part of the building measured 18.20 x 15.16 m. Room A must have been the apodyterium. Room B, with a floor of opus spicatum, was a frigidarium. The heated room C was according to Blondel originally flanked by pools (E-F and C). He suggests that in one of the pools a laconicum was installed later (F), while in the other pool (C) an apse was built with a round masonry basin for cold water (internal diam. 1.34 m.). The later investigators concluded that the apse with the round basin belonged to the first building phase. They did not find a central pool in the frigidarium, mentioned by Blondel. They dated the baths to the early first century. It was destroyed by fire in the third quarter of the first century, but rebuilt entirely.
Plan of the baths. Blondel 1955, fig. 1.
Already in 1921 a mosaic had been discovered in room A. In a central panel (1.46 x 1.47 m.) two boxers are depicted. The scene is mostly black-and-white, but for the arms of the boxer to the right the colours yellow, green and red were used. The boxers are wearing shorts. The one to the right is also wearing a shirt. Between them is the palm branch of victory, but we are not looking at a real fight. Only the boxer to the left has gloves and he is presumably a pupil, the other boxer his teacher. The mosaic has been dated stylistically to the early third century by Von Gonzenbach. The investigators from 1998 have suggested that it is from the first half of the first century.
The mosaic of the boxers. Massongex, Place de l'Eglise. Photo: Wikimedia, Carole Raddato.
Introduction
Baths
Religion
[23-Jan-2024]
