FB Caldarium

FB Caldarium

View of the interior of the hot room (caldarium)—looking south.  In the apse is a marble water basin or labrum.  Note the "ribbing" on the arched ceiling.  This was to divert the condensation away from dripping on the "participants" down to the walls.


The Forum Baths are located just north of the Central Forum of Pompeii—north of the Temple of Jupiter.  The men's section is much larger than the women's.  There are entrances into the bath from streets on the east, north, and west. The women's section has separate entrances and has not been open to the public during my visits to Pompeii.

This bath was constructed when the colony of Pompeii was founded in 80 B.C.  Like many buildings in Pompeii, it was severely damaged in the earthquake of A.D. 62.  The well–preserved frescos and stuccowork date to that restoration.  Thus, these were only 18 years old when Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79.