Roman Emperor's Luxurious Bath Complex Found In Serbia

(MENAFN- USA Art News) An archaeological excavation in Serbia has unearthed the remains of a uniquely designed bathing complex believed to have been used by a Roman emperor. The discovery, reported by Live Science, revealed a suite of rooms, including heated floors, three bathing pools, and a sauna, located at the base of a tower within an imperial palace. This architectural layout is unlike any previously observed in the Roman Empire.

The bath station was found at the Vrelo-Šarkamen archaeological site, a fourth-century residential complex. This site was occupied by Roman Emperor Maximinus Daza during his reign from 310 to 313 CE. The Serbian Institute of Archaeology 's findings indicate that“the palace was even more complex and luxurious than previously thought.”

Archaeologists were particularly surprised to discover a circular bath complex on the tower's lowest level, as most ancient balnea typically featured a linear arrangement of rooms. This specific bath area included a domed ceiling with six windows, demonstrating advanced engineering knowledge. Next to the bathing complex, an equipment room contained a furnace, used for heating the building's floors, along with remnants of a boiler for water heating. The emperor's personal section featured three pools and a sauna.

“The complex was not simply a space intended for personal hygiene, but a carefully designed private bath intended for high-status residents of the palace, in which architecture, technical infrastructure and comfort formed a single functional whole,” the Institute of Archaeology stated.

Source: ARTnews

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