How Did They Shower in Ancient Greece?

In ancient Greece, there was no running water or indoor plumbing like we have today. This begs the question, how did they keep themselves clean? Let’s take a closer look at how they showered in ancient Greece.

Bathing in Ancient Greece

Bathing was an important part of ancient Greek culture. People would bathe in public baths called “balaneia” or “thermae”. These baths were not just for hygiene purposes but also served as social gathering places where people could relax and socialize.

The Balaneia

The balaneia were small public baths that were heated by fires underneath the floors. The bathers would lie on slabs made of marble or stone while they were being rubbed with oil and scraped with a strigil (a curved metal tool used to scrape off dirt and sweat).

The Thermae

The thermae were larger public baths that were more luxurious than the balaneia. They had several rooms with different temperatures and activities such as saunas, hot tubs, and exercise areas. People would spend hours at the thermae, often bringing their own food and drinks to enjoy while they soaked in the warm waters.

Water Supply

Ancient Greeks did not have access to running water like we do today. Instead, they relied on wells and cisterns to collect rainwater for household use. This water was then carried into the balaneia or thermae in large jars called hydria.

Conclusion

In conclusion, bathing in ancient Greece was an important part of their culture and hygiene routine. While they didn’t have access to running water like we do today, they made use of public baths with heated floors and collected rainwater from wells and cisterns for their bathing needs.

  • Bathing was an important part of ancient Greek culture.
  • People would bathe in public baths called “balaneia” or “thermae”.
  • The balaneia were small public baths that were heated by fires underneath the floors.
  • The thermae were larger public baths that were more luxurious than the balaneia.
  • Ancient Greeks relied on wells and cisterns to collect rainwater for household use, including for their bathing needs.