Roman bath houses were not the first incarnation of bath houses, some date back as far as 2500 BC, first with naturally warm waters from volcanic activity. Once they developed hypocaust, a system for transporting hot or cold water to different areas, every Roman city had an extravagant bathing facility. Bath houses were a social hot bed for the Romans, often becoming dens of stagnant hot water where hedonistic socialites would drink, have sex, and make merry.
Versions of these bath houses still exist all around the world, ranging in use from recreational to healing. In Asia, gender separate bath houses are used for relaxation and bonding. For example, Koreans will go in groups together and as a show of friendship, they will scrape the dead skin from each other's backs. The Szechenyi Baths in Budapest, Hungary is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. It is supplied by natural thermal springs below ground and has 15 indoor pools with different minerals to treat varying ailments in each bath.
Regular swimming pools are another modern evolution from ancient bath houses.
As they were in ancient times, bath houses and swimming pools serve as modern day watering holes for people to cool off and socialise in a relaxed setting. Luckily, we've since upped the sanitation standards.
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