Bonekickers

History behind ‘The Eternal Fire’: Roman baths at Bath

Bath was the site for a complex of Roman baths, using the natural warm mineral springs that flow out the limestone aquifers at 46° C, and which were built from around 60 AD onwards.

To the Romans, the town was known as Aquae Sulis, after the original Celtic dedication of the site. Sulis was linked to the classical god Minerva, and a large classical temple (one of only two known to have been built in this style in Britain) was erected next to one of the main springs and associated baths.

The most famous find from the temple is the facade, with its Gorgon head, which conflates Celtic and Roman art styles in one of the most famous pieces of sculpture from Roman Britain. There have been investigations at Bath since the 1790’s, and especially between 1978-83, when the sacred spring was excavated and the temple area re-displayed.

Two other hot springs in the City, Hot Bath and the Cross Bath also have lesser-known Roman structures; those at the Cross Bath (the site of the Bath Spa) were most recently investigated in 2007.