In AD 200, in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire.
Compared to the Greeks' national character of valuing individualism and loving freedom, The Roman placed greater importance on collective strength.
Whenever they had free time, they liked to gather in public places to talk at length and discuss political affairs. Thus, large public venues were especially important in The Roman's lives, and public bathhouses were also places where everyone liked to congregate.
Many public bathhouses were open-air, while better ones had domes. Steam filled the air within, and waves of heat rolled through them because slaves were desperately supplying hot water in the basements.
People met each other here without pretense, let themselves go, and made the place incredibly lively.
The arguments of philosophers, the shouts of people chasing thieves, the tremendous splashes caused by people jumping into the pools, and the moans of prostitutes trying to please their customers all formed a terribly noisy melody.
Besides the usual occupations, there were also people who made a living by plucking hair. Their customers always let out piercing screams while having their armpit hair removed, turning them into the high notes of the score.
Wine sellers, sausage sellers, and vendors of all kinds of snacks busied themselves with business. The cries of the many eateries in the bathhouse soliciting customers made this place feel more like a grand market with a few extra pools, except none of the customers wore clothes.
Bathhouse areas were generally divided into hot-water halls, warm-water halls, and cold-water halls. The hot water was too scalding and the cold water too chilly, so people mostly gathered around the warm pools. The place was as chaotic as a decadent Heaven.
Of course, wealthy people could bring their own slaves to enjoy some peace and quiet in smaller