Athena Review Image Archive ™
Herculaneum: Central Baths, Mens' Apodyterium, labrum
Herculaneum: Central Thermae, marble labrum in Mens' Apodyterium (photo: Athena Review)
The
labrum or cold water basin in the men's changing room was used, along
with a rectangular tank, for preliminary washing before one entered the
inner rooms of the bath.
This labrum was carved from cipolin, an
Italian marble with alternating white and green streaks. The same
unique type of stone was also used for the fountain column in the House
of the Wooden Partition. This suggests a possible connection between
the owners of that house, and the source or donation of this labrum.
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