Suburban Baths, Roman thermal complex near Marina Gate, Pompei, Italy
The Suburban Baths are a Roman bathhouse on three levels near Porta Marina in Pompeii, Italy. Windows on the lower floor open toward the Gulf of Naples and bring natural light into the rooms for cold, tepid, and hot bathing.
The bathhouse was built between 14 and 37 CE under Emperor Tiberius. After the earthquake of 62 CE, the complex received a heated pool and further modifications.
The changing room displays eight numbered wall niches beneath erotic frescoes that likely helped guests remember their storage compartments. This combination of practical function and artistic decoration was part of the typical bathing experience in Roman thermal facilities.
The bathing chambers follow the traditional Roman sequence from cold to warm and finally to hot pools. Visitors can explore the three floors and view the different rooms with their separate functions.
An artificial grotto with mosaics shows cupids handing their weapons over to the war god Mars. From this decoration, a waterfall pours into the cold pool and creates a theatrical backdrop for bathers.
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