... immigrated here. Baths were usually built from starch and water supplies were designed alike to the systems used in Rome. Apart from their normal hygienic functions, they provided facilities for sports and recreation, their public nature created the apposite environment, similar to common city clubs or community centres; for social interaction varying from neighbourhood gossip to business discussions. There was even an academic side to the baths since the grand thermae, incorporated libraries, which were widely used and lecture halls also a major gymnasium; in this area such equipment as weights were kept and first introduced, today we use the same idea but most people now have these in their homes. Although wealthy Romans might set up a bath in their town houses or especially in their country villas, they often attended the public bathhouses in the cities and towns throughout the empire. The equipment available was unable to be installed ...

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