traveling half way across the world to visit a bath but forgetting your swimming shorts has got to be one of the most hilarious blunders I've ever heard
I am in tune with this kind of memory lapse - especially for a tour leader. One has to maintain some dignity in order to foster the discipline of those under your "care". [ "I am not going to accept orders from that lump of lard (did you see him?), and I will get on the bus in my own time']
@@kholt1776that was my guess. It’s easier to just say you forgot than to explain to strangers that you are uncomfortable in that situation without coming off as insulting.
What is wrong with you people? We’re learning about an ancient Roman facility and you’re small-minded enough to insult and speculate about our “host’s” motives? Pretty sad!
Honestly I'd see it worth sacrificing a dry pair of pants to dip in that water. Carrying on a life long tradition of communal bathing in such a beautiful Roman bath 🛁 truly a once in a lifetime experience ✨️
Yeh i would have just jumped in in underwear. Gez Romans weren't prudes they'd strip right off and plunge in. Do realise its a muslim country and you'd get no such thing there or woe to you when the religious police arrive 😁
Usually when you see Roman ruins in North Africa, they're surrounded by desert. I really liked seeing what the fertile parts of Algeria look like. In Roman times, I assume much more of North Africa looked like that. The Sahara has been expanding since the end of the last Ice Age. I guess the reason so many of the more impressive ruins are in the desert is because the cities were abandoned as the climate got dryer, whereas in the more fertile areas, they were often torn down and built over.
Where did you see that the Roman ruins were located in the desert, they are all surrounded by green hills or meadows in Algeria, the Roman limes stopped in front of the desert, the desert never interested the Romans. The cities were not abandoned for climatic reasons but because of the Vandal invasion that defeated the Byzantine successors to the Romans and ruined the cities..
@@anteversus8471 The intact ruins are in dry highlands. In Algeria we dont have year round green meadows except for a couple of river valleys. The landscape indeed becomes a vibrant emrald green, only after rain. And it dries up if rain doesnt fall for more than 1 week. The big ruins lay in areas that have less rain than they used to. There are few ruins who now lay in straight up sand dune desert. Desertification cant be denied. Climate is in constant change. The dry era of the Sahara is ending. A new wet era is starting they say. The Roman administration was aware of the trans saharan trade maintained by the camel herding desert tribes. It is speculated they sent at least one expedition before.
I noticed that the overall personality of men in all those countries is so similar. I get along with them so well compared to northern Europeans, Asians or Black Africans
My guess is that he was not comfortable in that situation and saying you forgot your suit is easier than trying to explain why you are uncomfortable without seeming insulting.
There's a small thermal spring Roman bath in Manilva near Gibraltar that is still used today. It was reputedly used by Caesar. It's very atmospheric and set under a tile built canopy that you descend down into, with cave-like channels to explore. The only downside is the sulphur smell. Definitely worth a visit if you're nearby!
I am actually an Algerian from the city where this hot spring is, in Khenchela. The water is great and it’s always been well preserved. Around 2012, the government started working on the baths to clean them up and restore them again. Today it’s pretty great too. I’d recommend going there between late November abd March. 1 2 3 Vuva L’Algerie 🇩🇿
@@ZiyadDyingtricycle many algerians speak french due to its history of being a former french colony, and was once a territory of france, until it became independent.
In Slovenia we have Rimske terme, which means roman spa. And they were built by the romans and are still in use today. However they are very different from what they used to look like.
So do we in Romania, they are called "Baile Herculane" meaning Herculane Baths, and they are still in use today. In fact, they are a popular tourist destination.
I knew the Roman Empire was big, but this way out of the way town, getting this treatment by the Romans, is amazing. I also never knew Algeria had such green areas, always thinking it was dry desert like.
it is 2,381,740 KM2, 2 million is desert, and 381,740 is fertile, and hills, and mountines, we dont have river, just the the northern part which is fertail, is the size of germany, which is biger then the british island, we have hot summers, we have snow winter, we beautifull beaches, many are hidden behind, mountines and forests, welcome to visit
Algeria is like 200km from italy, literally on the mediterranean sea! It was an important part of the roman empire, and still have some of the best preserved ruins. The only thing making you say that is the misconception of it being a desert (which is most of its territory) but Algeria is the biggest country in Africa, and the green northern part is similar in size to countries like germany or france ..
Lived here all my life and I've never been to the desert, you could go all your life just sticking to the fertile 20% of the country and you won't explore all of it, it's that big
I happened to visit Pamukkale a few years ago. Back then I did wonder if the large bricks and column drums in the pool I was sitting in were real or just decoration, now I have the answer.
When i saw the headline i was already to contradict with, 'ah, but what about the baths in North Africa?' Yes, i visited the Tunisian baths in 1986 on the motorbike. Missed the ones in Algeria. People might be very surprised by N. Algeria. It is very green as you say, and was actually colder there than it was in the UK at the time. Thanks for posting.
Yeah I would have gone through the trouble of going all the way to the last active ancient Roman bath, of which you never know when it may close or be destroyed, I would have at minimum rolled my pants up to dip my legs in. At max, taken off all my clothes minus pants and just jumping in anyway.
My guy am algerian muslim and i really hate how liberal it is.. meaning for you Algeria now is the most safe place...bars.. alcohol...tourism..you name it.. don't be afriad to come here..we are proud of having poeple interested in our country
4:08- Interesting how the Romans used the local deities in that Algerian hot springs alongside their own. They did the same thing in the British hot springs of what's now called Bath. I guess to get the locals to feel they were part of something bigger via being part of the Roman Empire.
So amazingly interesting. Such beautiful countryside to drive on the way, and 2 hours was pretty quick (by American standards). I can relate to forgetting one's bathing suit, but I personally wouldn't have been able to resist dipping my feet in it, at least. And the locals seem so friendly and keen on outsiders coming to appreciate the site. Great video.
This video is a treasure trove. I'm always fascinated by Roman history & always thinking about attempting to revive the Roman empie & make it greater than ever!
Awesome to see how far you've come and that you're staying true to your passion. So many times people are told to give up at the first hurdle but you persisted and found another way
Love your channel. There's always so much interesting info. I live in Tunisia and last weekend took my family to Dougga and prior to that, or course, I watched your video about visiting Dougga :) Now I'm thinking about visiting Hammamet Mellegue sometime, although it's really far away from Hammamet, where we live. But I definitely would like to visit Le Kef region, never been there. Keep up the good work!
This is a great review. Thanks for sharing. I particularly like the videos of the baths and the drive through Algiers. Never been to Africa, so videos like yours are very interesting and helpful. Keep up the good work!!
I find it frustrating when Westerners assume that every architectural accomplishment from the Roman era was exclusively a "Romans for Romans" feat, as this is far from the truth. North Africa, for example, was allied with Rome for centuries, and many of the cities that feature Roman-style architecture were actually built by local rulers. Take King Juba II of Numidia, for instance, who was instrumental in the construction of such cities. To illustrate the diverse makeup of the Roman Empire, consider that Septimius Severus, one of the Roman emperors mentioned in the video (at 5:07), was actually of Berber origin. This highlights how the Roman Empire was a melting pot of different nations and cultures. Therefore, it’s inaccurate to assume that every city featuring Roman-style architecture was built by Rome exclusively for Romans. This is akin to seeing a skyscraper or a McDonald's in Paris in 2024 and claiming it was built by Americans for Americans. To further elaborate, King Juba II, who reigned from 25 BC to 23 AD, was a Berber king educated in Rome. His reign saw the blending of Roman architectural styles with local traditions, resulting in unique urban landscapes. Similarly, Septimius Severus, who ruled as Emperor from 193 to 211 AD, hailed from Leptis Magna in modern-day Libya, a city that flourished under Roman influence yet retained its distinct North African identity. These examples underscore the cultural and architectural syncretism that characterized the Roman Empire, demonstrating that its accomplishments were often the result of collaboration and cultural exchange across its vast territories.
Are there any temple ruins nearby? The Romans typically built temples near springs, possibly downhill with an underground conduit to channel water for rituals. If there are such ruins it would be reasonable to suspect votive offerings buried around the foundation. One may find artifacts, like a terracotta ear or bronze foot bearing inscriptions.
@@scenicroutestothepast Is it appropriate for anyone to leave any offerings at those small shrines? Sorry for how ignorant this question might be. Thank you for any response
“We adore springs of hot water as divine, and consecrate certain pools because of their dark waters or their Immeasurable depth.” - Lucius Annaeus Seneca Stoic philosopher of Ancient Rome 4 BC - AD 65
The issue is that the inscriptions in the hammam are solely in Arabic, which is inaccessible to many since the region is predominantly Amazigh. To be inclusive, the signage should also be available in English, French, Amazigh, Arabic
I think the Turkish bath is a direct heir of the Roman bath dating from when the Turks took over Asia Minor - they even introduced the idea to Hungary during their occupation and there are still such baths there but I don't know if they are used as such -but there is a magnificent 19th century bathing complex in Budapest which is bound to have been inspired by them.
Well, Baths, in General, are an ancient innovation that appeared for the First time in the Indus Valley in Modern-day Pakistan around 3300-1300 BC and found their way to Persia, Mesopotamia, the Levant, Anatolia, Egypt, and Greece so there were Baths in Asia Minor and other parts of the Middle East way before the Romans.
@@macrinus-mauri But the Romans took them to a whole new level of grandeur and sophistication as they did with so many other things like bridges and aqueducts. You can see this in the incomparable and lofty splendour of such venues as the baths of Diocletian (Now Santa Maria degli Angeli church) and the Baths of Caracalla. The technology of cement allowed them to build so splendidly. There was a railway station in New York City that was built in imitation of one of these bath complexes but unfortunately it has been demolished!
@@anotheryoutuberperson38 I should imagine that the genetics of the Turkish population would not be that different to that of Greece and the Balkans especially considering the population transfers post World War One when any Greek of Muslim religion was transferred to Turkey and considered Turkish and vice versa any person of Asia Minor of Orthodox religion considered Greek and transferred to Greece even if genetically not Greek.
I'm ging to Tunisia in September and want to spend about two or three days in NE Algeria. Though the transportation gives me a headache as well. I badly need a good taxi driver to take me from Annaba at least to Guelma.
You can take a shared taxi at the inter-wilaya taxi station, if you want to be more comfortable, you can take the whole taxi for yourself, the price would be high by algerian standards, but its like 20-30 dollars max.
The marvelous Roman Bath, nostalgia for ancient times, even unbelievable it is functionable that you can have the same luxuries of Roman citizens today's.
As always your information about the Romans is the best! I may also suggest you to visit Sofia, Bulgaria. When I visited, I waa told that Sofia’s spas date back to the Roman age, as well. It’s definitely worth a trip!
Nothing as well preserved as this, but in Dorres, in French Catalonia near the Spanish border town of Puigcerdà, there are Roman springs, with a small tub that is said to date from that time. It's nowhere near as well preserved as these but it's a lot more accessible.
Cool spot! There's a small, room-temperature bath on Ischia off of Naples that claims to be ancient, too, and is still in use, although no ancient structures remain.
Budapest has roman baths as well. Not sure if they were continuously used or brought back to use like those in Baths. Also the baths of Ficoncella, near Civitavecchia (Rome) were rather bathing pools, not full thermae, but used as such and still are today, completed with some roman remains. Lots of springs in Italy have roman ruins of pools and baths and are still used or are natural fresh water oasises. I especially suggest the Springs of Clitumnae, near Terni, Umbria. A one hour drive from Rome
Holy cow, sure this area was a breadbasket for the Romans but actually seeing this country at ground level... it just looks completely different from anything you could imagine from a satellite image.
You can't use the original baths in Bath due to pathogens. They have built new structures that use hot springs minus the pathogen. Natural hot springs are great. That, along with history, is what makes Naples and the surrounding bay a great holiday.
There is one you can bath in actually & can be hired. It's called the Hot Bath & is across the road from the modern day spa. Obviously its not the original spring water, but it's the original bath. Very small, so only for groups up to 10
This bath didn't have the traditional frigidarium - tepidarium - caldarium plan. Because the water was heated by the spring, I guess you could say that both of the main pools were caldaria.
I'm shocked how Northern Algeria looks different from south which is basically a giant desert. I'd go there to check out but my nationality is on some Algerian blacklist and getting visa is too much of a pain...
Gender separated baths is not something new. Some bath's were just "men's bath's" and women would go to different one. Just like men's barbershop and women's hair salon. Different needs, different services, different prices and culture. Male only spaces have different aura.
Very cool and worth a visit. I cannot believe you went all that way and did not take a swim suit. I am guessing there was no store close by to get one either.
It's almost as if you're not supposed to elect a terrorist government and then launch an all out attack and target innocent festival goers... Who'd have guessed the bear might attack if you continually poke it
@@Ivan2Jura it’s almost as if you’re not supposed to have an apartheid government where you cage 2 million people, in 140sqmiles, take away their rights, steal their homes, kill their journalists and when they peacefully protest fire at them (this was only in the year before oct7th) …who would’ve guessed that 75 years of oppression and dehumanization would bring us here, be careful of parroting Israeli propaganda.
The Roman Baths of Baden-Baden, Germany were rediscovered and restored in the mid-1800s. Today, Baden-Baden is one of the biggest spa towns in Europe due to its Roman baths. In fact, the word "baden" literally means bathing, as even hundreds of years ago people were well aware that it was once the site of a Roman bath. The baths date to the time of Caracalla, though the actual springs were named for Emperor Alexander Severus.
I think of Algeria as being quite hot.. today it is 33°C in Algiers, and apparently the water at Hammam Essalhine is about 70°C.. is it really so comfortable? 🤔 ..and do they use the hot springs all year round?
@@m.e.345in that exact place temperature Go below zero degrees and experiences heavy snow fall every year. I used to Go to this bath in my childhood a lot.
We use it in winter where temperatures get so cold. Northern algeria has méditerranean climat, so itshot in summer, and cold in winter, but that smecific region of eastern Algeria gets below 0* in winter with snow.
I went to a bathhouse in Budapest that had been in continual use since Roman times. Only a small part was original. It was off the beaten path, not one of the tourist spots.
I wonder what the legionaries who did the first restoration, would think if they could see the baths as they are today. (I suppose there were restrictions on what one could disport oneself in at the current bath. and as there were women with your group...that could be sticky)
Anche in Italia ci sono antiche terme roma i funzionanti, come quelle di Cavascura , isola di Ischia ( Golfo di Napoli) o a Bacoli ( vicino Napoli), nell'Italia meridionale. Al Centro italia, In Toscana, S. Casciano Terme , dove in un'antica piscina termale furono trovate 15 atatuine di bronzo , d'epoca etrusca e romana, cone ex voto o divinità della salute. È stato una scoperta strepitosa: tirate dal fondo fangoso di una piscina termsle antica in uso, sono srate restaurate e portate in giro per mostra. Io l'ho viste al Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli. Ho dovuto fare la fila.
traveling half way across the world to visit a bath but forgetting your swimming shorts has got to be one of the most hilarious blunders I've ever heard
I am in tune with this kind of memory lapse - especially for a tour leader. One has to maintain some dignity in order to foster the discipline of those under your "care". [ "I am not going to accept orders from that lump of lard (did you see him?), and I will get on the bus in my own time']
Yeah, I imagine he never intended to bathe
Should have gone in naked, this is how the Romans would have originally bathed.
@@kholt1776that was my guess. It’s easier to just say you forgot than to explain to strangers that you are uncomfortable in that situation without coming off as insulting.
What is wrong with you people? We’re learning about an ancient Roman facility and you’re small-minded enough to insult and speculate about our “host’s” motives? Pretty sad!
Honestly I'd see it worth sacrificing a dry pair of pants to dip in that water. Carrying on a life long tradition of communal bathing in such a beautiful Roman bath 🛁 truly a once in a lifetime experience ✨️
You wouldn’t wear pants if you truly wanted to live a Roman bath tradition. According to your pfp you should know this.
The water was suspect?
Not allowed to go in with pants. Barbarian.
Yeh i would have just jumped in in underwear. Gez Romans weren't prudes they'd strip right off and plunge in. Do realise its a muslim country and you'd get no such thing there or woe to you when the religious police arrive 😁
We don’t know what happens off camera.
Usually when you see Roman ruins in North Africa, they're surrounded by desert. I really liked seeing what the fertile parts of Algeria look like. In Roman times, I assume much more of North Africa looked like that. The Sahara has been expanding since the end of the last Ice Age.
I guess the reason so many of the more impressive ruins are in the desert is because the cities were abandoned as the climate got dryer, whereas in the more fertile areas, they were often torn down and built over.
I was kinda shocked how beautiful it was there.
And it’s amazing that Roman creature comforts made it all the way to the fringes of the empire.
@@fractalmadness9253 north africa is not the fringe of the empire !
It is like new jersey and new york
Where did you see that the Roman ruins were located in the desert, they are all surrounded by green hills or meadows in Algeria, the Roman limes stopped in front of the desert, the desert never interested the Romans.
The cities were not abandoned for climatic reasons but because of the Vandal invasion that defeated the Byzantine successors to the Romans and ruined the cities..
@@anteversus8471 The intact ruins are in dry highlands.
In Algeria we dont have year round green meadows except for a couple of river valleys. The landscape indeed becomes a vibrant emrald green, only after rain. And it dries up if rain doesnt fall for more than 1 week. The big ruins lay in areas that have less rain than they used to.
There are few ruins who now lay in straight up sand dune desert.
Desertification cant be denied. Climate is in constant change.
The dry era of the Sahara is ending. A new wet era is starting they say.
The Roman administration was aware of the trans saharan trade maintained by the camel herding desert tribes. It is speculated they sent at least one expedition before.
Love that everyone was so friendly to you
Indeed.
we must reconquer the east
Be different if they were a female... or other!
What do u mean bro?😭@@mospeada1152
@@mospeada1152 not at all. I've met real friendliness in Algerian baths
Its totally crazy that a Roman bath in England is directly related to one in Turkey, Tunisia and Algeria. The Roman empire was huge.
Yeah. It's why E M P I R E
I noticed that the overall personality of men in all those countries is so similar. I get along with them so well compared to northern Europeans, Asians or Black Africans
@@CreepyPlanter thats the stupidest thing i've read today
@@CreepyPlanterit's probably more to do with IQ than the Roman empire
Have a look at a map!
man goes to se the roman bath, man forgets to bring bathingsuit, man don't take bath.
if man had been a woman and women were allowed this would not have happened
Wouldn't have been an issue in Roman times!
My guess is that he was not comfortable in that situation and saying you forgot your suit is easier than trying to explain why you are uncomfortable without seeming insulting.
In Colorado we have dozens of hot springs where you can be naked
You didn't need a suit back then.
There's a small thermal spring Roman bath in Manilva near Gibraltar that is still used today. It was reputedly used by Caesar. It's very atmospheric and set under a tile built canopy that you descend down into, with cave-like channels to explore. The only downside is the sulphur smell. Definitely worth a visit if you're nearby!
Four empires: Roman, Spanish, Napoleonic, British. The Brits still own it!
@@EdwardM-t8p Britons please not Brits. and no the Manilva baths are miles away from Gibraltar. The clue is in the name. Manilva is a Spanish town.
@@EdwardM-t8pYou forgot the Moors. It's now part of the United Kingdom, it's not owned. Rule is by consent.
@@nigelsheppard625 Also forgot the Visigoths. They held most of modern day Spain from about the early 500s up until the Moors invaded in 711.
*@chrisbibb*
Which Caesar?
I am actually an Algerian from the city where this hot spring is, in Khenchela. The water is great and it’s always been well preserved. Around 2012, the government started working on the baths to clean them up and restore them again. Today it’s pretty great too. I’d recommend going there between late November abd March.
1 2 3 Vuva L’Algerie 🇩🇿
Do they have baths for women?
French?
@@ZiyadDyingtricycle many algerians speak french due to its history of being a former french colony, and was once a territory of france, until it became independent.
@@Zenkrypt didn’t they kill a million Algerians though? Why would they keep speaking the language of their former occupiers ?
@@ZiyadDyingtricycle A million algerians?! source?
What a spectacular historical place!
Hearing about the people doing cannonballs for the camera made me so happy lol
Some things really are just universal, I guess.
Northern Algeria is beautiful. Wow
Barely…
Just incredible. Thank you for sharing Garrett.
I live near sabinillas, Spain, we have one here, still very much in use 😎
Does it have a name? More details would be appreciated.
In Slovenia we have Rimske terme, which means roman spa. And they were built by the romans and are still in use today. However they are very different from what they used to look like.
So do we in Romania, they are called "Baile Herculane" meaning Herculane Baths, and they are still in use today. In fact, they are a popular tourist destination.
@@vladmarc1213 wow crazy how romans left such interesting buildings across their lands.
Ejjj Slovenc
I knew the Roman Empire was big, but this way out of the way town, getting this treatment by the Romans, is amazing. I also never knew Algeria had such green areas, always thinking it was dry desert like.
it is 2,381,740 KM2, 2 million is desert, and 381,740 is fertile, and hills, and mountines, we dont have river, just the the northern part which is fertail, is the size of germany, which is biger then the british island, we have hot summers, we have snow winter, we beautifull beaches, many are hidden behind, mountines and forests, welcome to visit
Algeria is like 200km from italy, literally on the mediterranean sea! It was an important part of the roman empire, and still have some of the best preserved ruins. The only thing making you say that is the misconception of it being a desert (which is most of its territory) but Algeria is the biggest country in Africa, and the green northern part is similar in size to countries like germany or france ..
@@hadgadma3589 It has some beautiful areas. Now I know why those french overstayed their visit.
Lived here all my life and I've never been to the desert, you could go all your life just sticking to the fertile 20% of the country and you won't explore all of it, it's that big
So cool to see Roman baths still in use!
I happened to visit Pamukkale a few years ago. Back then I did wonder if the large bricks and column drums in the pool I was sitting in were real or just decoration, now I have the answer.
When i saw the headline i was already to contradict with, 'ah, but what about the baths in North Africa?' Yes, i visited the Tunisian baths in 1986 on the motorbike. Missed the ones in Algeria.
People might be very surprised by N. Algeria. It is very green as you say, and was actually colder there than it was in the UK at the time.
Thanks for posting.
Yeah I would have gone through the trouble of going all the way to the last active ancient Roman bath, of which you never know when it may close or be destroyed, I would have at minimum rolled my pants up to dip my legs in. At max, taken off all my clothes minus pants and just jumping in anyway.
Just take off everything - the Romans did . . .
My guy am algerian muslim and i really hate how liberal it is.. meaning for you Algeria now is the most safe place...bars.. alcohol...tourism..you name it.. don't be afriad to come here..we are proud of having poeple interested in our country
@@the_son_of_manyou hate how free it is?
4:08- Interesting how the Romans used the local deities in that Algerian hot springs alongside their own. They did the same thing in the British hot springs of what's now called Bath. I guess to get the locals to feel they were part of something bigger via being part of the Roman Empire.
Also an older worldview where other peoples god's weren't neccesarily Fake but could be made to co-exist in a new pantheon
Thanks for the video. I'm glad to see footage from that extraordinary journey you all had.
Of all the people of which I have ever known, you are, hands down, the most accomplished traveler.
minus the forgeting to swim in the pool becouse you forgot your swimsuit :D
Thank you for sharing the highlights of your trip.
Having a continuously running hot water spring for 2000 years+ is a blessing. Having two is a miracle.
Splendid!
Certainly worth the detour.
It’s hot where I am in the world but that hot mineral bath looks quite inviting.
Thank you for a truly beautiful video on a treasure from the past !.
Great video... excellent story and background.
What a superbly done video! Thank you very much!
So amazingly interesting. Such beautiful countryside to drive on the way, and 2 hours was pretty quick (by American standards). I can relate to forgetting one's bathing suit, but I personally wouldn't have been able to resist dipping my feet in it, at least. And the locals seem so friendly and keen on outsiders coming to appreciate the site. Great video.
As a Roman man, I loved this video. Grazie mille amico.
This video is a treasure trove. I'm always fascinated by Roman history & always thinking about attempting to revive the Roman empie & make it greater than ever!
very interesting to see an original Roman bath still in use today...thank you, dts/usa
Awesome to see how far you've come and that you're staying true to your passion. So many times people are told to give up at the first hurdle but you persisted and found another way
Love your channel. There's always so much interesting info. I live in Tunisia and last weekend took my family to Dougga and prior to that, or course, I watched your video about visiting Dougga :) Now I'm thinking about visiting Hammamet Mellegue sometime, although it's really far away from Hammamet, where we live. But I definitely would like to visit Le Kef region, never been there. Keep up the good work!
This is a great review. Thanks for sharing. I particularly like the videos of the baths and the drive through Algiers. Never been to Africa, so videos like yours are very interesting and helpful. Keep up the good work!!
I find it frustrating when Westerners assume that every architectural accomplishment from the Roman era was exclusively a "Romans for Romans" feat, as this is far from the truth. North Africa, for example, was allied with Rome for centuries, and many of the cities that feature Roman-style architecture were actually built by local rulers. Take King Juba II of Numidia, for instance, who was instrumental in the construction of such cities. To illustrate the diverse makeup of the Roman Empire, consider that Septimius Severus, one of the Roman emperors mentioned in the video (at 5:07), was actually of Berber origin. This highlights how the Roman Empire was a melting pot of different nations and cultures. Therefore, it’s inaccurate to assume that every city featuring Roman-style architecture was built by Rome exclusively for Romans. This is akin to seeing a skyscraper or a McDonald's in Paris in 2024 and claiming it was built by Americans for Americans.
To further elaborate, King Juba II, who reigned from 25 BC to 23 AD, was a Berber king educated in Rome. His reign saw the blending of Roman architectural styles with local traditions, resulting in unique urban landscapes. Similarly, Septimius Severus, who ruled as Emperor from 193 to 211 AD, hailed from Leptis Magna in modern-day Libya, a city that flourished under Roman influence yet retained its distinct North African identity. These examples underscore the cultural and architectural syncretism that characterized the Roman Empire, demonstrating that its accomplishments were often the result of collaboration and cultural exchange across its vast territories.
Are there any temple ruins nearby? The Romans typically built temples near springs, possibly downhill with an underground conduit to channel water for rituals. If there are such ruins it would be reasonable to suspect votive offerings buried around the foundation. One may find artifacts, like a terracotta ear or bronze foot bearing inscriptions.
It could be very possible as you stated and if done serious archeology around it would be would be come out very interesting discoveries...
There was a small shrine to the nymphs of the spring incorporated into the baths.
@@scenicroutestothepast Is it appropriate for anyone to leave any offerings at those small shrines? Sorry for how ignorant this question might be. Thank you for any response
@@Stevie-J
I Did not know the Roman religion is still alive lol
A great find! Thank you Garrett!
“We adore springs of hot water as divine, and consecrate certain pools because of their dark waters or their Immeasurable depth.”
- Lucius Annaeus Seneca Stoic philosopher of Ancient Rome 4 BC - AD 65
Amazing! What a trip, thanks for sharing 🙂
As always, your video makes the viewer reflect on the depth of history. I wonder when we shall enjoy a third book by you.
great video, thank you!
Excellent! Thanks.
The issue is that the inscriptions in the hammam are solely in Arabic, which is inaccessible to many since the region is predominantly Amazigh. To be inclusive, the signage should also be available in English, French, Amazigh, Arabic
Its fine, everyone in there understands arabic.
I think the Turkish bath is a direct heir of the Roman bath dating from when the Turks took over Asia Minor - they even introduced the idea to Hungary during their occupation and there are still such baths there but I don't know if they are used as such -but there is a magnificent 19th century bathing complex in Budapest which is bound to have been inspired by them.
Well, Baths, in General, are an ancient innovation that appeared for the First time in the Indus Valley in Modern-day Pakistan around 3300-1300 BC and found their way to Persia, Mesopotamia, the Levant, Anatolia, Egypt, and Greece so there were Baths in Asia Minor and other parts of the Middle East way before the Romans.
@@macrinus-mauri But the Romans took them to a whole new level of grandeur and sophistication as they did with so many other things like bridges and aqueducts. You can see this in the incomparable and lofty splendour of such venues as the baths of Diocletian (Now Santa Maria degli Angeli church) and the Baths of Caracalla. The technology of cement allowed them to build so splendidly. There was a railway station in New York City that was built in imitation of one of these bath complexes but unfortunately it has been demolished!
@@macrinus-mauriyes public baths are older than rome
Yes, Eastern Romans intermarried with Seljuks. This is in the genetics of the modern Turkish population in the western provinces.
@@anotheryoutuberperson38 I should imagine that the genetics of the Turkish population would not be that different to that of Greece and the Balkans especially considering the population transfers post World War One when any Greek of Muslim religion was transferred to Turkey and considered Turkish and vice versa any person of Asia Minor of Orthodox religion considered Greek and transferred to Greece even if genetically not Greek.
I'm ging to Tunisia in September and want to spend about two or three days in NE Algeria. Though the transportation gives me a headache as well. I badly need a good taxi driver to take me from Annaba at least to Guelma.
You can take a shared taxi at the inter-wilaya taxi station, if you want to be more comfortable, you can take the whole taxi for yourself, the price would be high by algerian standards, but its like 20-30 dollars max.
It's unbelievable today for me, but I have actually been to Algeria. We visited the capitol Alger.
The marvelous Roman Bath,
nostalgia for ancient times,
even unbelievable it is
functionable that you can
have the same luxuries of
Roman citizens today's.
Awesome , I would love to go see this ...I will eventually
I’ve been to the Roman baths in bath England it’s so beautiful
As always your information about the Romans is the best! I may also suggest you to visit Sofia, Bulgaria. When I visited, I waa told that Sofia’s spas date back to the Roman age, as well. It’s definitely worth a trip!
Nothing as well preserved as this, but in Dorres, in French Catalonia near the Spanish border town of Puigcerdà, there are Roman springs, with a small tub that is said to date from that time. It's nowhere near as well preserved as these but it's a lot more accessible.
Thank you for sharing this awesome story.
Many thanks for the video
Cool spot! There's a small, room-temperature bath on Ischia off of Naples that claims to be ancient, too, and is still in use, although no ancient structures remain.
Budapest has roman baths as well. Not sure if they were continuously used or brought back to use like those in Baths. Also the baths of Ficoncella, near Civitavecchia (Rome) were rather bathing pools, not full thermae, but used as such and still are today, completed with some roman remains. Lots of springs in Italy have roman ruins of pools and baths and are still used or are natural fresh water oasises. I especially suggest the Springs of Clitumnae, near Terni, Umbria. A one hour drive from Rome
Fantastic!
Holy cow, sure this area was a breadbasket for the Romans but actually seeing this country at ground level... it just looks completely different from anything you could imagine from a satellite image.
You tell a hell of a story.
You can't use the original baths in Bath due to pathogens. They have built new structures that use hot springs minus the pathogen.
Natural hot springs are great. That, along with history, is what makes Naples and the surrounding bay a great holiday.
There is one you can bath in actually & can be hired. It's called the Hot Bath & is across the road from the modern day spa. Obviously its not the original spring water, but it's the original bath. Very small, so only for groups up to 10
@@tinkertoke I had seen that one.
Viva Algeria!!
Ur country has gone to shxt
@@sashamoore9691 Israel?
My roller coaster of emotions listening to this: Roman Baths still exist 😍They are in North Africa 😭They have a women's bath 😄
Is there going to be more chance of the Roman baths being more accessible? 3:09
What a beautiful life ❤
Thanks, very. interesting. I believe that several Roman era baths in Bulgaria and maybe Romania are also being restored.
Green is not the colour I expected Algeria to be…beautiful!
Both pools were caldarium? Or was one the tepidarium? Where was the frigidarium?
This bath didn't have the traditional frigidarium - tepidarium - caldarium plan. Because the water was heated by the spring, I guess you could say that both of the main pools were caldaria.
Marvelous.
What a find!
Thanks 👍🏼
I'm shocked how Northern Algeria looks different from south which is basically a giant desert. I'd go there to check out but my nationality is on some Algerian blacklist and getting visa is too much of a pain...
Women couldn't use it? What an advanced culture.
Algeria is a Muslim conservative country, men and women can’t bathe in the same pool together.
2:39
Gender separated baths is not something new. Some bath's were just "men's bath's" and women would go to different one. Just like men's barbershop and women's hair salon. Different needs, different services, different prices and culture. Male only spaces have different aura.
How chivalrous for the men not to forego bathing so the women could use the bath, then…
Please respect other's culture. Don't act like a lunatic.
Very cool and worth a visit. I cannot believe you went all that way and did not take a swim suit. I am guessing there was no store close by to get one either.
There was a Roman bath in Gaza still in continuous use, but Israel destroyed it in the past 8 months. Hamam as-Sammara.
It's almost as if you're not supposed to elect a terrorist government and then launch an all out attack and target innocent festival goers... Who'd have guessed the bear might attack if you continually poke it
You should watch the documentary title Nova to see why Israel is defending itself.
@nightowlslounge you should watch the documentary titled Tantura to learn why Israel's entire existence is terrorism.
@@Ivan2Jura it’s almost as if you’re not supposed to have an apartheid government where you cage 2 million people, in 140sqmiles, take away their rights, steal their homes, kill their journalists and when they peacefully protest fire at them (this was only in the year before oct7th)
…who would’ve guessed that 75 years of oppression and dehumanization would bring us here, be careful of parroting Israeli propaganda.
@@Ivan2Jura Bro ignoring 70 years; or 2000 years of context
Ah man, would have jumped in with my boxers then went commando the rest of the day.
the bath in herculaneum romania are still intact and with water
Awesome!
There's one on the Costa del Sol used by hundreds every year ....it's at Casares and has a river feeding it
The Roman Baths of Baden-Baden, Germany were rediscovered and restored in the mid-1800s. Today, Baden-Baden is one of the biggest spa towns in Europe due to its Roman baths. In fact, the word "baden" literally means bathing, as even hundreds of years ago people were well aware that it was once the site of a Roman bath. The baths date to the time of Caracalla, though the actual springs were named for Emperor Alexander Severus.
I think of Algeria as being quite hot.. today it is 33°C in Algiers, and apparently the water at Hammam Essalhine is about 70°C.. is it really so comfortable? 🤔 ..and do they use the hot springs all year round?
actually, I wonder also.. what is the reason for the warm water? ..is it like Yellow Stone Park in the US?
@@m.e.345in that exact place temperature Go below zero degrees and experiences heavy snow fall every year.
I used to Go to this bath in my childhood a lot.
We use it in winter where temperatures get so cold. Northern algeria has méditerranean climat, so itshot in summer, and cold in winter, but that smecific region of eastern Algeria gets below 0* in winter with snow.
Algiers is not representative of Algeria
00:00 Is that Lenord Nimoy?
wow ! when is the next trip and how do I sign up ? )
Remember to enjoy things while they last. A civilization is never too big to fall.
i don´t belive for one second you forgot swimming suit
I woulda jump in my street clothes to expeirence that😊
🤣😂👍
Amazing!
I think it’s great that you embrace the blue collar label “American TH-camr”. Right on Professor, right on.
Amazing
This is very cool! Do you know if there are times for women to use the baths, or is it only for men?
In the spa complex there are three pools for women, but I don't think this outdoor pool is used by them.
I went to a bathhouse in Budapest that had been in continual use since Roman times. Only a small part was original. It was off the beaten path, not one of the tourist spots.
Very interesting and also new info. Bravo 👏🏻
hamam sarıkaya yozgat turkey is also a roman bath that is still active
Ποια ειναι η αιγια
Are the BATHING. like with soap and water or simply swimming?
Is it chlorinated? I have so many questions. I have an inground pool 🏊♀️ so pools interest me.
cool video
3:51, no, the Romans did not believe anything about Hammam Essalihine. They did believe about Aquae Flavianae : )
Great video!
I wonder what the legionaries who did the first restoration,
would think if they could see the baths as they are today.
(I suppose there were restrictions on what one could disport oneself in at the current bath.
and as there were women with your group...that could be sticky)
También tienes el Balneario de Alange, cerca de Mérida, España.
What about the roman baths in Bath, UK ?
Anche in Italia ci sono antiche terme roma i funzionanti, come quelle di Cavascura , isola di Ischia ( Golfo di Napoli) o a Bacoli ( vicino Napoli), nell'Italia meridionale. Al Centro italia, In Toscana, S. Casciano Terme , dove in un'antica piscina termale furono trovate 15 atatuine di bronzo , d'epoca etrusca e romana, cone ex voto o divinità della salute. È stato una scoperta strepitosa: tirate dal fondo fangoso di una piscina termsle antica in uso, sono srate restaurate e portate in giro per mostra. Io l'ho viste al Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli. Ho dovuto fare la fila.