The Roman Bath
The Roman Bath is situated on an elevated area, 2.5 meters above street level, on the western side of Çankırı Street. In the past, this area was known as “Çankırı Kapı” and contained the remains of architecture popularly referred to as "Yoğunduvar." In 1926, plans were made to construct a building for the Ministry of National Defense on this site, and land leveling began. However, the remains of the Roman-period bath located here were demolished using dynamite, and the debris was deposited in the marshy areas along the banks of the Hatip River. During this process, the remains of bath were destroyed without documentation, and the standing sections of the bath were removed without being recorded.
Subsequently, the construction of the Ministry building was abandoned, and the land was transferred to the Ministry of National Education. In 1927-1928, plans were made to construct the General Library of the Ministry of National Education on the site, but this initiative was also abandoned due to the possibility that the area might be an ancient mound. In 1931, during the opening of Çankırı Street, which extended from Ulus Square to Dışkapı, excavations in the area uncovered architectural elements from the Classical period. As a result, the Museums Directorate of the Ministry of National Education requested the German Archaeological Institute in Istanbul to examine the findings. K. Bittel and K. O. Dalman, conducted investigations; however, their study was limited to the architectural fragments revealed by road construction, and no comprehensive excavations were carried out. Consequently, no definitive assessment of the bath’s architecture was made. Nonetheless, the research led to the discovery of one end of an ancient city's colonnaded street. In 1937, as part of Prof. Dr. Remzi Oğuz Arık’s archaeological research in Ankara, excavations were conducted in the area, yielding significant findings. These excavations confirmed the presence of multiple archaeological layers, revealing traces of Phrygian settlement along with the remains of the Roman-period bath. Between 1940 and 1943, further excavations were carried out with funding provided by the Turkish Historical Society under the supervision of Museums Director Hamit Zübeyr Koşay and led by archaeologist Necati Dolunay. After a year of investigations, the bath structure was fully uncovered. During this period, archaeologist Çevriye Artuk from the Ethnography Museum and archaeologist Mahmut Akok, responsible for documenting the architectural findings, also participated in the excavations. Between 1944 and 1947, additional excavation work was conducted in the construction parcels surrounding the bath. During these excavations, further Roman-period buildings were discovered. These findings were documented and photographed by Mahmut Akok and his team. While some of this research was published, the rest of the findings were archived as reports at the Directorate General of Museums.
Regarding travel accounts, one of the sources related to Ankara is the visit of Kinneir in 1813. As he exited the city's İzmir Gate and proceeded north, he noted the presence of a large architectural ruin, which he interpreted as an amphitheater. However, subsequent analyses have confirmed that these ruins actually belonged to the Roman Bath. Given its towering walls and strategic location, the bath was identified as a significant structure.
The existence of a bath in the city of Ankyra is known from honorific inscriptions erected at various points in the city. Although it is not definitively established whether this bath was directly connected to the Great Roman Bath, many researchers have suggested such a connection. In an honorific inscription erected by four Phyle, it is stated that Tiberius Iulius Iustus Iunianus undertook the role of epimeletes (overseer) for a bath constructed in the city. Of course, Iunianus was neither a master builder nor an expert in this field. However, as an epimeletes, he assumed an honorary role. According to tradition, a certain amount of funding was allocated to the epimeletes for the implementation of the project under their supervision. However, this amount was usually insufficient, and it was expected that the epimeletes would cover the remaining costs from their own resources. In this context, it appears that Iunianus personally financed the construction of this bath.
The Roman Bath is one of the most significant public structures of the Ankyra and stands out as a remarkable example among the bath-gymnasium complexes of the city. Studies on its architectural features, structural components, and functions contribute to understanding both its position within urban planning and its place in Roman bath architecture. The bath consists of two main components: the palaestra (exercise area) and the bathhouse. The bathhouse measures approximately 140 x 180 meters and is connected to a palaestra measuring approximately 95 x 95 meters on its northeastern side. The palaestra is designed as a large open courtyard, surrounded by 32 columns on each side.
The combination of the bath and palaestra is regarded as an example of the "Bath-Gymnasium" model, in which Roman baths were integrated with gymnasium functions. The northeastern entrance of the bath was likely connected to the main roads of the ancient city through a columned gateway. Inscriptions found on architrave blocks along the Colonnaded Street to the east suggest that these architectural elements belonged to the entrance of the bath complex. This area is proposed not only as the entrance to the bath but also as a public space for gatherings and honorific dedications. The spatial organization of the bath follows the typical layout of Roman baths, consisting of the frigidarium (cold room), tepidarium (warm room), and caldarium (hot room) in a classical tripartite arrangement. A total of 14 praefurnia (furnaces) have been identified, supporting an advanced hypocaust system that provided underfloor heating. This system was particularly designed to suit the cold climate conditions of Ankyra. The presence of heated apodyteria (changing rooms) indicates that the structure was specifically designed to withstand Ankara’s harsh winter conditions. When compared to Vitruvius’ descriptions of Roman bath planning, it is noteworthy that the tepidarium and caldarium were oriented southwest instead of strictly south, suggesting a deliberate adaptation to climatic factors.
The Bath should not be considered merely as a facility for hygiene and relaxation but also as a center for sports, social activities, and religious rituals. The agonistic games attributed to the Caracalla period indicate that the palaestra was used for festivals and public ceremonies. The northeastern part of the palaestra is believed to have contained an Imperial Hall, where statues dedicated to Caracalla were displayed. The discovery of a nude emperor statue in 2007 further supports the notion that this area functioned as an honorific space.
The numismatic evidence retrieved from excavations suggests that the latest coins date to the reign of Caracalla and his mother, Julia Domna, implying that the bath was completed between A.D. 211–217. Honorific inscriptions attributed to Tiberius Iulius Iustus Iunianus indicate that the bath was constructed as a public benefaction. Scholars propose that construction began during Hadrian’s reign and was completed under Caracalla. E. Bosch’s analysis connects the bath’s completion to Caracalla’s Eastern campaign, suggesting that it was likely finished before the emperor’s arrival in Ankyra.
References
Akok, M. (1955). Ankara şehri içinde rastlanan İlkçağ yerleşmesinden bazı izler ve üç araştırma merkezi. Belleten, 19, 309-329.
Akok, M. (1968). Ankara Şehrindeki Roma Hamamı. Türk Arkeoloji Dergisi, 3-37.
Bosch, E. (1967). Quellen zur Geschichte der Stadt Ankara im Altertum, Türk Tarih Kurumu. Ankara.
Dolunay, N. (1941). Çankırıkapı hafriyatı. Belleten, 19, 261-266.
Dolunay, N. (1948). Çankırıkapı hafriyatı. 3. Türk Tarih Kongresi 1943, 212-218.
Görkay, K. (2011) Büyük Hamam (Caracalla Hamamı), içinde: Roma Dönemi’nde Ankyra, der. M. Kadıoğlu, K. Görkay, S. Mitchell, Yapı Kredi Yayınları, İstanbul; 179-190.
Macdonald Kinneir, J. (1818). Journey through Asia Minor, Armenia, and Koordistan, in the years 1813 and 1814; with remarks on the marches of Alexander and retreat of the Ten Thousand.
