Ancient Romans have contributed many important elements to western civilization. They created a legacy that proved to be as dominant as it was long lasting and many Roman principles are embodied in their modern instructions. The Romans made varies of contributions to the Western Civilization, but a few are the most important of all. Bathing was a major part of ancient Roman culture and society. The act of bathing was developed to be one of the most common daily activities and was practiced within all social classes.The baths were the ancient Roman equivalent of community centers where individuals came to socialize. The thermae also offered amenities other than bathing: “Ancillary spaces in the bathhouse proper housed food and perfume-selling …show more content…
The earliest such findings are the baths in the palace complex in Crete. They established public baths and showers within their gymnasium complexes for the purpose of relaxation and personal hygiene. Greek mythology specified that certain natural springs or tidal pools were blessed by the gods to cure disease. Around these sacred pools, Greeks established bathing facilities for those who had the desire of healing. Supplicants left offerings to the gods for healing at these sites and bathed themselves in hopes of a cure (Catwright 1). The Romans expanded this idea created by the Greeks and made these facilities incorporate a wide assortment of baths. Roman bath-houses were then provided for private villas, town houses, and forts. These became common in even the smaller towns of Roman society that eventually became located near the forum. Nowadays, many contemporary cultures see bathing as a private activity executed in the privacy of an individuals own home, but bathing in Rome was a communal activity used to