Modern bath is very different from the way it once looked. Aquae Sulis was once no more than a small Roman town, distinguished by the 3 hot springs that ran underground. Bath lay in the southeastern part of England, and can be seen on this map. The setting of the town was a dramatic landscape; The Avon River flowing on the outskirts, with hills on both side and a valley in between where the town lay. The town was divided into two sections, the walled in part and the outer settlements. Since very little is known about the outer settlement, we will deal only with the internal section. At the center of the town lay the King's Bath, the site of the Temple of Sulis Minerva and the principle bathing section. The hot spring, with a wall around it, served as a reservoir that fed the various baths. The baths were large and architecturally splendid, as was the Temple of Sulis Minerva. This was a Corinthian style temple, standing on a podium within a large colonnaded precinct. It had a four-columned portico, and the cella behind covered the rear two-thirds of the podium with Corinthian pilasters bordering it. The front pediment depicted a bearded male Medusa head within a central shield bounded by oak leaves and acorns, and supported by flying winged victories on either side. The temple precinct held many altars, remains of monuments, other pediments. The Temple and baths occupied the main portion of the walled town. Although the inner town remained under construction for most of its existence, archeological excavations indicate many buildings cluttered together, many of them manors of great wealth. There was a Hospital where mineral water was thought to heal sick patients. All in all, the wall is believed to have protected 11 major buildings by the time of Roman collapse.

There were other impressive buildings that we know less about. A place of religious practice held in a theater is believed to have existed, but nothing is truly known about this. Near one of the gates is a steep rise in the group with ornate lions and blocks that is believed to be the theater. A Tholos, or circular temple, to the southwest is thought to have existed at some point. The temple was of comparable size to the Temple of Sulis Minerva. Around the main buildings lay the defensive wall seen in the above map.

Beyond the outer settlements lay the cemeteries. This map gives a good ides of how spread out Bath became, and how little is truly know about the town. The cemeteries and tombs spread out across the settlements and for the most part were structured around the four main roads. Unfortunately, most of Bath besides the Baths and temples, is relatively unknown at this point. However, it is evident from the precisely planned architecture and walled in city that it differed greatly from most of Roman Britain.

Back