|
BACK -
Page 2 The religion of water blossomed
in Ancient Rome. From history we know, that bathrooms were in many
private dwellings. Public baths, or "terms" worked regularly, too.
By the way, the word "bath" came from a Latin word "balneum" - "to
banish the pain". 200 years B.C. nearly 1000 terms worked in Rome!
They had been built under the decree of emperors and named by their
names. For example, terms of emperor Karkalla were especially
perfect. Every term could contain 2300 persons at a time. There were
hot and cold water pools, rooms with individual baths, steam baths
and massage rooms. People came to terms not just to wash off the
dirt but to relax: to have a rest, to listen to lectures of
philosophers and to have a walk in patio gardens. So even then there
were some kinds of membership clubs. And in magnificent bathrooms of
Emperor Nero it was possible to arrange true feasts and to combine
"useful" and "pleasant".
The Roman sin of pleasant and long bathing was unacceptable for
severe middle ages. People washed themselves on rare occasions. At
the most a bath was a tile-fronted reservoir or a round wooden tub
filled with hot water. The tub was an article of luxury; it was
granted for rent from house to house. For the purpose of hot water
saving in one tub at a time usually washed two people.
In order to keep the water hot, in ХVШ century had been invented and
used closed "baths-boots" which were about one meter long. There is
one more historical fact about baths. One of French revolution
leaders Marat had been killed by a dagger in such bath-boot.
French coppersmith Level in XVII century had set a mass production
of metal baths in Europe. He had invented a geyser. For very long
time his invention had been out of competition and hadn’t any, more
perfect, analogues.
During the reign of Queen Victoria, new
devotees of cleanliness placed hip metal baths right in their
bedrooms near the mantelpieces that allowed to nimble owner to take
the water procedures promising health and longevity right after
sleep. A sign of coming century was a cult of health and sports.
A sparkling nickel bath and a white tile in the bathroom had become
typical in houses at the beginning of XX century. A large window in
the bathroom was a necessity because the bathroom had to be filled
with fresh air. In bathrooms of that period of time there were also
mantelpieces, shower cabins with nickel-plated rails for taking
shower while sitting in wicker chair; large bathtub where a group of
people could be washed at a time; monumental marble washstand and
huge water-closet...
Time goes by. Increasing opportunities of people give rise to
increased demand on modern sanitary means. Culture of washing and
stance on cleanliness of a human body during different ages were
reflected in design and accessories of bathrooms. Nowadays,
abundance of market grants to consumer almost boundless freedom of
choice of bathroom design. In short, the bathroom is to be not only
a place of your body hygiene, but also a place where your soul can
rest.
|