Herculaneum VI.1. Thermae Centrali or Central Baths, linked to VI.7, VI.8 and VI.10.

Part 1      Part 2      Part 3      Part 4      Plan

Frigidarium, or cold plunge pool

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Dressing room or apodyterium.

Looking towards west wall, and north-west corner with doorway leading to cold plunge pool room, or frigidarium, on right.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. October 2004.

Looking towards corridor to frigidarium in north-west corner of apodyterium. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Monteix.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Doorway leading into the vestibule of the cold room, or frigidarium.

On the left (west side) of the apodyterium in the north-west corner is a doorway leading to the small square vestibule of the frigidarium.

According to Maiuri, the frigidarium was painted marine blue, with red walls broken by four deep yellow niches and a domed ceiling (with a skylight) upon which is painted a fish-pond on a bluish background.

According to Guidobaldi, the water from the frigidarium would have been used to clean the latrine on its south side, at entrance VI.31.

See Guidobaldi, M.P. (2009). Ercolano, guida agli scavi, (p.100).

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Looking west into vestibule of cold room or frigidarium.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. March 2014. Looking through doorway into frigidarium, from vestibule.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Doorway into cold plunge pool in frigidarium.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Cold-water plunge pool.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. March 2014. Looking south across the cold-water plunge pool.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. September 2004. Cold water plunge pool with niches for sitting in.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. March 2014. Looking south towards two of the four niches set around the pool.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Looking south towards two of the four niches set around the pool.

The walls were red, and the walls of the niches were golden yellow.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Remains of painted decoration.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Remains of painted decoration.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Above the niches was the blue-grey painted vaulted ceiling with an opening in the centre.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Blue-grey vaulted ceiling.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Blue-grey vaulted ceiling.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Blue-grey vaulted ceiling, with opening.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. September 2004. Blue-grey vaulted ceiling, with opening.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Vaulted ceiling painted with sea creatures.

VI.1/7, Herculaneum. May 2010. Vaulted ceiling painted with sea creatures.

Part 1      Part 2      Part 3      Part 4      Plan