The Great Bath on the Lechaion Road

The large Roman bath situated on the Lechaion Road must have been conspicuous in the architecture of ancient Corinth at the beginning of the third century A.D. and for several centuries afterward. The author relates the history of the site and its excavation, most recently in 1968, and discusses in detail the remains of the entrance court with its two-story marble facade, three major rooms of the interior, and adjacent service areas. The monumental facade, which employed a variety of colored marbles and carved ornament, is a notable addition to our knowledge of Roman architecture in Greece. The fragments are illustrated in photographs, and the reconstruction is presented in detailed drawings. Plan and elevation drawings of the interior spaces contribute information on design and structure of bath buildings of the period. This book is a valuable resource for archaeologists and ancient historians, especially those interested in the details of one of Rome’s favorite pastimes: public bathing.