Public Baths

To Romans, fountains were much more than mere civic decorations. As part of the most complex water distribution system in the ancient world they were a mark of Roman civilisation and technical superiority. After the excavation of Pompeii, destroyed by the explosion of Mount Vesuvius in AD79, many fountains were found preserved by ash. They were placed throughout the city, enjoyed by citizens and slaves alike. In Rome, the writings of Consul Sextus Julius Frontius mention that there were thirty grand fountains throughout Rome by AD98 and nearly 600 public basins. Pressure to drive the water up and out was achieved through the clever use of gravity and different sizes of lead piping. Pliny the Younger describes one household where the fountains sprayed their water only when the guests sat down to dinner on their ingeniously designed seats!