Potaissa Roman Castrum - Thermae - Romania
The Roman castrum Potaissa , belonged to Macedonian 5 Legion, and was built in the year 168.
The bath complex that was located near covers an area of over half of hectare.
The unusual thickness of the walls which were built of brick and stone, and the vaults built of Roman concrete, had contributed to the conservation of the remnants of the “thermae” for a long period of time.
The building was equipped with facilities needed to convey, heat and distribute water, spillways, and a “hypocaustum” system.
A hypocastum is a system used for heating rooms with hot air circulating under the floor and in the walls.
The water came from wells and the springs located in the Sandulesti and Copaceni area.
The specific areas of Roman baths were identified as:
- apodyterium- a room used for undressing
- frigidaria - cold water pools
- tepidaria - rooms heated with warm air
- caldaria- warm water pools
- latrinae
Near these chambers, there was a large hall of 1 800 square meters, used for physical exercise, palestra.
Several statues of gods(Hercules, Serapis) that decorated the chambers and courtyards were found. Also, shrines dedicated to health deities like Aesculapius and Hygia, and to the goddess Fortuna.
If you want to read part one - Principia click here.
The next thing on the list the History Museum from Turda with holds some findings from the Potaissa Roman Castrum.
Great walk around places like that and rebuild the structure in mind and try to imagine the details of the age. Regards
It is interesting to see a building, or what remains from the year 168.
This is a place that I also have to visit. I visited two times the Salt Mine in Turda, but up to today, I was not even aware of a Roman castrum in the vicinity...
There are some road signs that indicate the way to the Roman Castrum, but I guess it is not as visited as The Salt Mine.
Very cool indeed. Can you actually walk around the old walls and structures? Or is it on paths and protected? Seems you could damage it, even though it's been there for eons of time. Amazing any still stands at all. Makes me feel a bit small, in life-time sorts of thoughts and time spans and such. And we've only been here for a SHORT length of time. When you see the curve of human beans and our existence. Truly amazing indeed. Thanks for sharing more of the museum trips.
You can get pretty close, but I didn't get inside of it. They don't have a guard watching the castrum sadly. I say this because I have seen other places with writings on them. I just can't understand the need to write your name on old monuments. The only man there was the one cutting the grass.
It is the remains of ancient civilizations Can be treasures buried in the area <3
Ancient Roman engineering is a very interesting topic. Cool post!
I agree, it is always interesting to see old ways of living/building.