Baths of Caracalla

History and Evolution: Construction initiated by Septimius Severus and completed during Caracalla’s reign in AD 216. Located on a site previously a garden estate called horti Asiniani. Over 2,000 tonnes of material installed daily for six years to complete the baths. Functional until the 6th century, then used as a Christian pilgrimage site. Used for pilgrim burials in the 6th and 7th centuries. Popes Adrian I, Sergius II, and Nicholas I may have conducted aqueduct work in the 9th century. Used as a quarry for construction materials since the 12th century. Transformed into vineyards and gardens in the 14th century. Stones used for St. Peter’s Basilica by Pope Pius II in the 15th century. Excavations in the mid16th century led to the creation of Museo Farnese. Excavation, Restoration, and Architecture: Excavations by various individuals revealed mosaics, statues, and artifacts. Restoration work in the 19th century revealed significant architectural elements. Expansion of excavations in the early 20th century uncovered subterranean passages and a Mithraeum. Second largest Roman public baths after the Baths of Diocletian. Heated by a hypocaust system with a capacity of 6,000 to 8,000 bathers. Aqua Antoniniana aqueduct specifically built to serve the Baths of Caracalla. The bath complex covered 25 hectares with millions of bricks used in construction. Main building could hold an estimated 1,600 bathers. Interior and Subterranean Features: Included a public library, cold, medium, and hot rooms, and gyms for wrestling and boxing. Mithraeum considered the largest documented gathering space for Mithra worshippers. Tunnels used for heating baths and water outflow, lit by skylighttype windows. Columns made of granite and weighing close to 100 tons. Highquality sculptures ornamented the baths, including the Farnese Bull and Hercules. Cultural Impact and Modern Influence: Influenced later architecture like the Baths of Diocletian and Basilica of Maxentius. Modern structures inspired by the baths include St Georges Hall in Liverpool and Pennsylvania Station in New York City. Direct copies of the baths’ architecture used in Penn Station, Senate of Canada Building, and Chicago Union Station. Use as a Cultural Venue: Rome Opera Company used the central part of the complex as its summer home from 1937 to 1993. Venue hosted the first Three Tenors concert in 1990. Rome Grand Prix took place at the baths four times from 1947 to 1951. Gymnastics events of the 1960 Summer Olympics were held at the venue. Served as a filming location for ‘John Wick: Chapter 2.’ Popular tourist attraction open to the public with restricted access to protect mosaic floors.