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Ancient Hypocaust

No, but I did ask a drunk German guest how to pronouce my last name, "Thies".

Comments

  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928


    Back from trip to Bodrum, Turkey plus a couple side-trips. Photos from ancient city of Ephesus. This is the innermost, hottest room (caldarium) of the smaller, more exclusive Roman style bath in the heart of the city. Built at the height of the Roman period in Turkey around the third century a.d.

    You can see the channels for hot air that once went under the floor and through the walls as well as the vaulted chamber for the praefurnium (furnace). Unlike the larger baths, the praefurnium was not a large, separate room.

    A network of clay piping (some still visible and amazingly intact) fed hot water to warm the tepidarium (middle, warm room of the bath) as well as DHW and space heating for the "homes of the rich" just across the broad avenue and up a steep slope from this bath. The VERY large bath at the upper entrance to the city appeared to be in far worse condition but I was on a very rushed tour and didn't have time to explore. Seeing this, I had to break away to get a few pics as I believe such things are quite rare.

    Sorry for the deep shadows--this caldarium appeared to have been mainly carved out of a cliff and the surprisingly high walls (unreconstructed) were still in quite good condition as they receive quite a bit of support from the surrounding rock faces.
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,578
    stonework

    nice pix!
    those "dead men" were marvellous stonemasons as well as early heating experts.
    maybe when i have finished with my mastery of my 1-pipe system i will attempt a bit of stonework.
    at the hotel did they ask you how to pronounce the name of your state?--nbc
  • Derheatmeister
    Derheatmeister Member Posts: 1,579
    Roman Infloor heating systems

    I Germany we also have an Castle Called Salburg near Frankfurt which was also from the Roman empire.

    It also had some petty serious Infloor radiant heating system that was fire feed by some slaves from under the floor.

    Petty "Cool" stuff ehh...
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,858
    Be2

    was the name of the slave fire boy... It was pronounced B-T-U :-)

    Cool stuff Mike.

    ME

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928


    VERY cool Der Heatmeister--just like your demonstration trailer. Something tells me that you and your dogs would have been under great demand in those times...

    Haven't found the Jehana Bock.
  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928
    B4U

    How is a man a slave when he serves a just master who respects those who dare to challenge? Far better than the wolves.

This discussion has been closed.