Caracalla Baths - Terme di Caracalla (Italian: karakara yokujou)

This is a large bath built by Emperor Caracalla of ancient Rome. It is located south of the Caelian Hill in Rome. It is the largest of the many large baths, and opened in 216, although interior construction continued afterwards. The main building is 220 meters wide and 114 meters deep, and was equipped with hot air baths, hot water baths, cold water baths, various meeting halls, entertainment rooms, a library, and other facilities, and could accommodate 1,600 people. Today, only the exposed brickwork and some of the floor mosaics remain, but at the time the walls were covered in beautifully colored marble, and there were statues and fountains in various places, making it the ultimate in luxury. Emperor Caracalla built it to provide rest for his soldiers and to gain popularity among the citizens. Currently, a large temporary stage and seating are set up on the ruins every year, and an open-air opera is held, which is very popular. The historic centre of Rome, where the baths are located, is registered as a World Heritage Site along with the Papal States and the Church of San Paolo fuori le mura (World Cultural Heritage).

[Yukio Beniyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古代ローマのカラカラ帝がつくった大浴場。ローマ市チェリオの丘の南にある。数多くあった大浴場のうちでも最大の規模をもち、216年に開場したが、内装工事はその後も続けられた。主建築は幅220メートル、奥行114メートルで、熱気浴場、温湯浴場、冷水浴場のほか、各種の集会場、娯楽室、図書館などを備え、1600人を収容できた。いまでは芯(しん)積みのれんがが露出し、床のモザイクが一部残っているだけであるが、当時は壁面は色美しい大理石で覆われ、各所に彫像や噴泉があり、贅美(ぜいび)を極めていたという。カラカラ帝がこれをつくったのは、将兵の休養と市民の人気取りのためであった。現在、毎年この遺跡に大きな舞台と客席を仮設し、野外オペラが行われ、人気をよんでいる。なお、この大浴場のあるローマ歴史地区は教皇領、サンパオロ・フォーリ・レ・ムーラ教会とともに世界遺産の文化遺産として登録されている（世界文化遺産）。

［紅山雪夫］

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