Throughout the lifespan of the Roman Empire, the Romans were able to develop advanced methods of construction while creating a unique Roman style. This is especially true in the case of Roman Baths. Examining Roman baths and their transition over time expose the ingenuity of Roman engineering, development of a Roman art style and reflect a degree of societal structure. These bath houses were widespread throughout the empire; their popularity allows them to act as a symbol to watch the transition of Roman traditions. Heating, tile work and decorative tiles illustrated the ingenuity in engineering and artistic development while the act of bathing exposed the nature of societal structure. The most admirable aspect of the development of Roman
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Bath houses utilized tiles as a way to decorate the walls and floors. These tiles changed the images they depicted over time as Romans began to develop their own art style. Marble mosaic tiles originally depicted marine life; marine life was the chosen because of the importance water plays in creating the baths. Marine life was just the initial step in mosaic tiles; by the second century the baths utilized a technique known as tesserae. Tesserae is an artistic style that created two-dimensional, geometric shapes using black and white marble. As Roman baths continued to grow, so did the use of tile in the baths. In 115 CE, tesserae continued to develop by incorporating human silhouettes rather than basic geometric shapes. This introduction of the human form into mosaic tiles marked the beginning of realism and humanism in the creation of mosaic tiles. By the third century, the silhouettes depicted began to depict the most ideal human form. Hence, decorative tiles demonstrate the development of ‘Roman …show more content…
This amenity became a prime example of the advancements of Roman engineering. Located throughout the empire, the baths were a testament to the advancements in water transport and heating. The baths also reflect the development of a unique roman art style through the development of intricate mosaics and statues that decorated the buildings. Finally, the baths acted as a way of improving emperor to citizen relations, expose the nature of slave to citizen relations and illustrate the differences in social standards for men and women. The baths are a symbol of Roman success and the order of roman
Bath houses utilized tiles as a way to decorate the walls and floors. These tiles changed the images they depicted over time as Romans began to develop their own art style. Marble mosaic tiles originally depicted marine life; marine life was the chosen because of the importance water plays in creating the baths. Marine life was just the initial step in mosaic tiles; by the second century the baths utilized a technique known as tesserae. Tesserae is an artistic style that created two-dimensional, geometric shapes using black and white marble. As Roman baths continued to grow, so did the use of tile in the baths. In 115 CE, tesserae continued to develop by incorporating human silhouettes rather than basic geometric shapes. This introduction of the human form into mosaic tiles marked the beginning of realism and humanism in the creation of mosaic tiles. By the third century, the silhouettes depicted began to depict the most ideal human form. Hence, decorative tiles demonstrate the development of ‘Roman …show more content…
This amenity became a prime example of the advancements of Roman engineering. Located throughout the empire, the baths were a testament to the advancements in water transport and heating. The baths also reflect the development of a unique roman art style through the development of intricate mosaics and statues that decorated the buildings. Finally, the baths acted as a way of improving emperor to citizen relations, expose the nature of slave to citizen relations and illustrate the differences in social standards for men and women. The baths are a symbol of Roman success and the order of roman