Karanis Bath Reconstruction

sketchfab

Among the utterly devastated remnants of ancient Karanis, a particularly impressive bathhouse stands out in the Northern section of the site, showcasing the quintessential Roman public baths in Egypt. Architecturally speaking, it's one-of-a-kind, boasting an entire suite of rooms with distinct functions despite its relatively modest size. Constructed primarily from red bricks and sun-dried bricks, the floors are beautifully paved with local limestone flagstones. The rooms designed for actual bathing feature domes and vaults built from red bricks, while the spacious disrobing/banquet hall boasts a wooden roof that has since vanished altogether. A cutting-edge hot-air system with under-floor channels and chambers efficiently heats the hot section of the bath, utilizing exhaust vents cleverly concealed within the walls. Even in their fragmented state, the naturalistic floral motifs painted in bold colors still manage to captivate.