Balneum

A balneum (plural balnea) is the Latin word for bath. It generally refers to a smaller, private bath as opposed to the larger, public thermae. In Roman antiquity, a balneum could be found in private residences, villas, and smaller establishments accessible to the public for a fee. These baths were an important part of daily life, offering opportunities for hygiene, relaxation, and social interaction. While smaller than the thermae, balnea still often incorporated similar features, such as different temperature rooms (caldarium, tepidarium, frigidarium) and facilities for exercise and massage, albeit on a more modest scale. The word balneum is also used in some contexts to denote a bathing room or a complete bathing complex. The scale and extravagance of a balneum would vary greatly depending on the wealth and status of the owner or establishment.