Athena Review Image Archive ™
Herculaneum: Central Baths, Men's Calidarium apse
Herculaneum: Apse in Men's Calidarium, Central Thermae (photo: Athena Review)
The Men's Calidarium of the Central Thermae, 13 by 6.5 m in area, had a large rectangular tub for hot bathing. On the other side of the room was an apse decorated with stucco, shown in this image.
The raised dais in the apse originally held a
labrum or cold water basin, somewhat similar to that in the Men's
Apodyterium. The labrum in the Men's Calidarium, however, was
removed in the 18th century during early explorations of Herculaneum,
in the reign of the Bourbon dynasty.
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