Stabian Baths, Pompeii

The Stabian Baths are an ancient Roman bathing complex in Pompeii, Italy [1]. They were the oldest and the largest of the five public baths in the city and centrally located at the intersection of two main streets [1]. Their original construction dates to c. 125 BC, making them one of the oldest bathing complexes known from the ancient world [1]. They were remodelled and enlarged many times up to the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD [1]. Excavations in 2021 and 2023 have revised the layout of several phases of the baths and discovered two previously unknown laconica (saunas or sweat baths) under the palaestra courtyard [1]. In ca. 125 BC a magistrate had the first bath building constructed using fines levied by the local administration [1]. The building contained two sets of bath suites each with apodyterium, tepidarium and caldarium, a latrine and, for the men, two laconica and the rectangular palaestra with Doric porticoes on three sides [1].