Ancient thermae: grim realities

The balneary epigrams present a gilded dream of ancient bath-houses as the haunts of goddesses, gilded palaces of leisure and pleasure. A few anonymous poems, though, point towards realities that coiuld not be relied on to measure up. Promises of exclusivity and intimacy might mask cramped and overcrowded premises. The hypocausts that heated the warm and hot rooms were not always up to scratch, or owners skimped on fuel bills. They also leaked sooty smoke that called for regular cleaning, which didn't always happen. The deep-clean sponsored by Theodore in the second of these epigrams is presented as a truly heroic labour.

AP 9.609a

This one is where the Graces really bathed:
It has no room for any more than three.

AP 9.615
On a bath at Smyrna

You premises once murky, tell, what man
Rendered you wealthy in the light of day
That shines upon your bathers? Who was he
That found you caked in sooty smut and grime
And scoured it to expose your radiance?
The mind of Theodorus, wise in this
As in all things: how truly did it show,
Even in this, his heartfelt purity;
Though city father, steward of its means,
He never stained his hands with private gain
From public property. Almighty God,
Immortal Christ, protect this patriot
And ward him safe from all calamity.

AP 9.617
On a chilly bath

You bath-attendant, who put walls around
This icy river? What deceitful man
Renamed as bathing-house this mountain spring?
‘The lord of winds, Hippotes’ son, and friend
To the immortal gods’ has gathered in
The gales of every quarter, here to dwell.
Why are these wooden boards beneath our feet?
Their purpose is not warmth; instead they bear
A chilling stream of freshly melted snow:
Phrixus and Narce find themselves at home.
Put up a sign, then: ‘Bathe in Mesorus,
For Boreas is gusting here within.’
 

Bathing Graces

The Graces (Kharites), embodiments of attraction and delight, appear in a number of the balneary epigrams collected in Book 9 of the Anthology. They are often in the company of Aphrodite (the Cyprian or 'Cypris'), her naughty son Eros, or both. Here are two examples:

 
9.616


ANONYMOUS



There was a time the Graces bathed herein,

And baby Eros stole their lovely clothes

And ran away and left them naked here,

Ashamed to leave and be a spectacle.


 

9.623


CYRUS



Cypris and all the Graces bathed herein,


Here too her boy of golden archery.


They left a Grace in payment of their fee.

Kharis and the Kharites also appear in epigrams found inscribed in bathhouses. Busch's Versus Balnearum (p.131-3) gives a couple of good examples in Greek from late antique Rome. Here is an extract in prosaic translation:

...From all around flashes inextinguishable kharis, whatever your eye may light upon: the waters of the Nymphs, the bathing-pools, the halls, the Kharites...

  There is a lot of Nymph action in the balneary epigrams too, as you might expect.