Steam bath

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Geothermal steam bath in Iceland. Gamla gufubadid a Laugarvatni sed ad innan.jpg
Geothermal steam bath in Iceland.

A steam bath is a steam-filled room for the purpose of relaxation and cleansing. It has a long history, going back to Greek and Roman times.

Contents

History

The origins of the steam bath come from the Roman bath, which began during the height of the Roman Empire. Ancient Roman baths served many community and social functions within Roman society. Many citizens in Rome used Roman public baths, regardless of socioeconomic status. These Roman baths were supplied by natural hot springs from beneath the ground. [1] Archaeological works at the monastic complex in the Makurian city of Hambukol, has revealed the possible use of one of its rooms as a steam bath. [2]

Historical parts of a spa — Roman, medieval, Georgian and Victorian have been restored in Bath, England and is available as a public bath or Thermae. [1]

Modern steam baths

Today, natural steam baths still exist, and often still use similar systems that the Romans used, which contain pipes and pumps that bring water up and into the large pool areas, wherever the natural springs exist. Heaters are also now used to maintain warm temperatures in the baths.

There are many types of steam baths, which are different from saunas. (Both are hot, but the steam in a sauna is created by throwing water on a stove.)

Hammams, steam rooms and steam showers are types of steam bath.

See also

Related Research Articles

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A hammam, called a Moorish bath and a Turkish bath by Westerners, is a type of steam bath or a place of public bathing associated with the Islamic world. It is a prominent feature in the culture of the Muslim world and was inherited from the model of the Roman thermae. Muslim bathhouses or hammams were historically found across the Middle East, North Africa, al-Andalus, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and in Southeastern Europe under Ottoman rule.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steam shower</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient Roman bathing</span> Custom of ancient Roman society

Bathing played a major part in ancient Roman culture and society. It was one of the most common daily activities and was practised across a wide variety of social classes. Though many contemporary cultures see bathing as a very private activity conducted in the home, bathing in Rome was a communal activity. While the extremely wealthy could afford bathing facilities in their homes, private baths were very uncommon, and most people bathed in the communal baths (thermae). In some ways, these resembled modern-day destination spas as there were facilities for a variety of activities from exercising to sunbathing to swimming and massage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diocletianopolis (Thrace)</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lukács Baths</span> Historic indoor/outdoor thermal bath spa in Budapest, Hungary

The Lukács Thermal Bath is a historic indoor/outdoor thermal bath spa in Budapest, Hungary, heated by natural hot springs. All pools and four saunas can be used by all guests except for the optional area of the sauna world, which contains five more saunas, ice cooling pool, igloo and heated roman bench.

Finnila's Finnish Baths—a.k.a. Finnila's—was a Finnish bathhouse and a health club in San Francisco, California. It served the general public from circa 1910 to September, 2000. Finnila's was located in the Castro District of San Francisco for its first 75 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buxton Baths</span> Listed buildings in Derbyshire, England

The Buxton Baths using natural thermal spring water are in Buxton, Derbyshire, England. The baths date back to Roman times and were the basis for developing Buxton as a Georgian and Victorian spa town. The present buildings of the Thermal Baths and the Natural Mineral Baths were opened in the 1850s. They are positioned either side of the Buxton Crescent at the foot of The Slopes in the town's Central Conservation Area. They are both Grade II listed buildings designed by Henry Currey, architect for the 7th Duke of Devonshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Turkish baths</span> Type of bath in which the bather sweats freely in hot dry air, then washes

The Victorian Turkish bath is a type of bath in which the bather sweats freely in hot dry air, is then washed, often massaged, and has a cold wash or shower. It can also mean, especially when used in the plural, an establishment where such a bath is available.

References

  1. 1 2 The Cultural Progression of the Spa
  2. Welsby, Derek (2002). The Medieval Kingdoms of Nubia. Pagans, Christians and Muslims along the Middle Nile. The British Museum. p. 172. ISBN   0714119474.