For the ancient Greeks and Romans, steam bathing was an integral part of daily life. From Homer to Hippocrates, Greece's most famous philosophers and physicians wrote about the importance of these restorative baths.
Taking their cue from the Greeks, the Romans continued the practice and made it their own, enhancing the social and architectural aspects. While Greek baths tended to be smaller and more intimate, Roman steam showers were often very large and included a variety of rooms and facilities, from swimming pools to relaxation areas. Aqueducts were created to serve the baths, which exhibited sophisticated water and heating systems. In many cases, the public baths were egalitarian meeting places, open to all and generally accessible at no cost or for only a small entrance fee.
Both the Greeks and Romans recognized the many potential benefits of steam bathing—from personal hygiene to therapeutic applications. They used varying temperatures to produce the desired effects, slowly acclimating the body to greater and greater heat and then cooling it with a cold plunge. They also incorporated salts, herbs, oils, and other natural elements to elevate the steam's perceived cleansing and healing powers.
In ancient Mesoamerica, indigenous peoples like the Maya and Aztecs used temazcales, sweat lodges made of volcanic rock where cleansing and relaxation were achieved through steam. Everyone from battle-weary soldiers to pregnant women would engage in the steam bathing.
