Thermae on Humeitepe
The Humeitepe thermae are located at the foot of Humeitepe, the northernmost inhabited hill of Miletus. It is one of 7 bath complexes known to have existed in Miletus. As one of the smaller complexes, it occupies an entire block (insula) in the residential quarters to the north of the Lion Harbor. It probably dates back to a period between the middle of the first and second centuries CE. This is likely because the main urban water pipelines were extended in 79/80 CE.
The thermae complex must be considered as a compact construction whose actual bath is flanked by arcades facing the street. A central vestibule in the south of the building leads into the inner courtyard, which was surrounded by pillars (peristyle). The entrance area also contained stairwells providing access to an upper story and, in the eastern section, latrines. A long, rectangular cold-water pool (natatio) formed the center of the inner courtyard. Visitors of the bath complex used it to cool down after enjoying the hot baths. The cold-water pool was not a feature of the original building, however: it was added during renovations in the second half of the second century CE. Heading north from the inner courtyard, you reach the actual bathing complex, divided into 3 successive zones. The first zone consists of a central niche (exedra) with 2 interior columns and 2 side rooms used as changing rooms (apodyteria). Each of these changing rooms adjoins a small cold-water pool to the south. The next zone, north of the first, contains the hot baths. A central hot room (caldarium) is surrounded by 2 symmetrically arranged, less intensely heated warm rooms (tepidaria). The third zone was used to heat the complex. It consisted of narrow, corridor-like rooms that were not directly connected to the other parts of the thermae and only accessible from the street. The central room housed the furnaces (praefurnia). Towards the end of the Roman Empire, in the fourth century CE, the complex was converted into a lavish, palatial residential building.
Text: Silas Munnecke
References
- A. von Gerkan – F. Krischen, Thermen und Palaestren, Milet 1,9 (Berlin 1928) 126142.