THERMAL BATHS AND THEATRE
A set of ruins allowing to appreciate the importance of the city of Argos during the Antiquity.
This set of ruins allows us to appreciate the importance of the city of Argos during antiquity. First of all, we can see the Roman baths which consisted of a large room with an apse (still partly visible today) and several other rooms whose foundations remain. The building was restored after the sack of Argos by the Goths, which explains why its apse has resisted so well. In the background of the baths are the remains of a gigantic theater, one of the largest in Greece since it could accommodate 20 000 spectators. Like many Greek theaters, it was remodeled under Roman rule to accommodate the circus and water games. Finally, you can go and see the remains of the Roman odeon built 100 m south of the baths.
The Greeks invented the concept of collective baths next to the gymnasiums, but it was the Roman emperors who generalized its use throughout their territory. The Roman baths always included: a palestra for physical exercise, a laconicum for dry sweat, a caldarium for hot baths, tepidarias for warm water and finally a frigidarium for cold water. The baths were the meeting place of all the aristocrats of the city who discussed politics while taking care of their bodies. Numerous thermal baths could be built in average cities like Dion in Macedonia where one already found ten thermal complexes.
However, the visit is free.