Roman Baths, Wall & Amphitheatre
From Barry my final stop in South Wales was at Caerleon. In my university art history classes, I had learnt about how the ancient Greeks and Romans have extensive public bath and work outs! The difference between them being open to all vs only men! Greeks had their gymnasium and n*ked sports practice (they're the founders of Olympics, right!), alongside their extensive spa like public bath, which wasn't open to women! However in course of time in Roman period, the spa became all the more extensive and also open to women and children.
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The 3 main sections were Tepidarium (warm water), Caldarium (hot steam), and Frigidarium (cold water). After exercising in the indoor hall or outdoor pool, the first stop is at the Frigidarium to cool the body. Then is the Tepidarium where they apply scented oils on their body and step into the sauna like Caldarium to sweat it off! After scraping off the sweat, oil, dirt & grime, the final step is again into the Frigidarium. The prime purpose of this was to keep the soldiers acclimatized to all weather conditions, no matter where they go to battle!
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One pool with its bricks still intact, the rest of the structure is gone. Presently lighting effect and LED display give an idea of how it may have been in the ancient times. All pools had good draining system to keep the water clean and flowing. In course of time, several jewelry like rings and semi precious stones that fell of the jewelry where found in the drain and are now kept in the Caerleon Museum. The Museum also has all things excavated here incl jewelry, pottery, glassware, weapons, coins, head stones and a lot more.
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But the thing that attracted me the most in the Museum was the sarcophagus of a man with his remains, in display!!!
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The bath built about 85 CE and there were pet dogs or atleast stray dogs at that point of time. How do I know? Paw prints on the bricks that has got permanent over time, now. There's also a human foot with shoe, probably the guy who tried to shoo away the dog! Another tile has a deliberate engraving that says LEG II AVG meaning this was during the Legion of Augustus II.
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Also in display here were some products they used. Here are a few that caught my attention. Guess what - our laptop crossbody bags are 2000 yrs old!!! The footwear of the era; The sickle shaped Strigil that was used to scrap of oil & dirt; And that stick with sponge on one end is actually their re-usable tissue!!!! Yeah, that was dunked into vinegar (to kill germs) and used to wipe after bowels!!!!!!!!!
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An awesome factor of Roman Civilization is their mosaic work. The intricate, detailed, 3 dimensional art works all made with marble chips of various colors always blew my mind!!!
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A short walk from here takes to the Amphitheatre. It isn't very big and cannot be compared to Colosseum or similar structures. The entire place is covered with green grass reminding me much of Old Sarum.
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Almost opposite to this is the Barracks where the soldiers would have lived. Its said that each room housed upto 8 soldiers. Within this premises is also the public toilet for the soldiers! The way only the foundation is visible, this place pretty much reminded me of Dholavira and Lothal.
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Yes, I did one blunder. I could have visited the Newport Cathedral before heading to Carleon coz it closes by 4pm and I could be at Carleon till about 5:30 or till dusk! Sadly I went to Caerleon first and by the time I came back to Newport it was 4 and there was nothing I could do!!! Once bitten, twice shy - I'm shy! Doing this blunder the 2nd time after missing Salisbury Catherdral after Old Sarum in a pretty much same way!
Timings (Winter/Summer):
Baths: 9:30 AM (11:00 on Sun) to 4:00/5:00 PM
Amphitheatre: 9:30 AM (11:00 on Sun) to 4:00/5:00 PM
Museum: 10:00 AM (2:00PM on Sun) to 5:00 PM
Admission Free everywhere.
To get there:
Buses are available from Newport.
Buses accept cash (coins, not notes). One way costed about £2.
Dedicated to Venkat
Timings (Winter/Summer):
Baths: 9:30 AM (11:00 on Sun) to 4:00/5:00 PM
Amphitheatre: 9:30 AM (11:00 on Sun) to 4:00/5:00 PM
Museum: 10:00 AM (2:00PM on Sun) to 5:00 PM
Admission Free everywhere.
To get there:
Buses are available from Newport.
Buses accept cash (coins, not notes). One way costed about £2.
Dedicated to Venkat