Baths of Constantine, Ancient Roman thermal complex on Quirinal Hill, Rome, Italy
The Baths of Constantine are an ancient Roman thermal complex on the Quirinal Hill positioned between modern Via Nazionale, Largo Magnanapoli, and Piazza del Quirinale. The structure displays typical bathing facilities with circular tepidarium and caldarium sections, portions of which remain beneath the Casino dell'Aurora.
Emperor Constantine I built this bathing complex around 315 AD, demolishing existing houses to create an artificial platform over earlier 2nd and 3rd century structures. The facility continued to operate until the Gothic War of 535-554 AD, when Ostrogoths destroyed the aqueducts supplying water to Rome.
Bronze statues of a boxer and a Hellenistic prince once decorated this complex, reflecting the artistic wealth of Roman bathing culture. These sculptures, now at the National Roman Museum, reveal how public baths served as spaces to display fine art and demonstrate prosperity.
The remains lie beneath the Casino dell'Aurora and are only visible through archaeological excavations that have revealed details about the original structure since 1870. Visitors can observe the site from street level, though most of the complex is hidden beneath modern buildings.
This complex served not just as a bathing facility but also housed significant artworks, revealing how Romans integrated sculpture into public bathing spaces. The combination of functional design and artistic decoration demonstrates the way Romans treated public buildings as spaces for both recreation and cultural display.
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