BATH AND BATHING IN DACIA (1). CURRENT STATE OF RESEARCH OF THE BALNEA.

Abstract

Within this paper we publish a critical review of the state of research on the military bathhouses from Roman Dacia. Moreover, our aim is to also provide a broader regional survey. It comprises a short discussion of the history of research, emphasizing the importance of the essential contributions to the study of military baths in Dacia, as well as the importance of the regional studies and of the monographs of different archaeological sites. Therefore, we decided, to review and update our knowledge of the military bathhouses uncovered in the Dacian provinces. According to the current state of research, there are 39 balnea recorded, including baths located within the forts (praetorium), as well as extra muros, in the civilian settlements. Upon reviewing the evidence, the paper stresses the variety of the military balnea discovered and points out the differences between legionary and auxiliary baths, shedding light on some of the local features of these baths.

Keywords

• roman dacia
• limes
• fort
• balnea
• bathing suite