Latrines (in the foreground) and sudatorium. View from the north.
© Sebastian Schmid
The settlement of Cambodunum, now Kempten in the Allgäu region, is one of the best-known urban sites of antiquity north of the Alps in terms of its layout. This is due to extensive excavations carried out mainly in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. In addition to the forum, a temple district, and parts of the residential area, three public bathing facilities were also discovered: the so-called Thermenhaus, the Great Baths, and the Small Baths.
Paul Reinecke examined the Small Baths in 1925, uncovering the bathing area consisting of several rooms (frigidarium, tepidarium, caldarium, sudatorium, latrines) as well as several courtyards. In many cases, however, he limited himself to excavating the floor plans and following only the walls, leaving the interiors of the rooms largely untouched.
Tepidarium.
View of the hypocaust floor with pillars made of brick tiles and a heating channel from the east. | © Sebastian Schmid
Literature
W. Kleiss, Die öffentlichen Bauten von Cambodunum. Baubeschreibung und Rekonstruktion. Materialh. bayer. Vorgesch. 18 (Kallmünz/Opf. 1962) 26–41.
M. Sieler, Die frühkaiserzeitlichen Holzbauten im Bereich der Kleinen Thermen von Cambodunum-Kempten. Materialh. bayer. Vorgesch. A 93 = Cambodunumforsch. VIII (Kallmünz/Opf. 2009).
G. Weber/B. Kata, Cambodunum geht baden. Ein Begleitheft zum 2. Abschnitt des Archäologischen Parks Cambodunum – APC, den Kleinen Thermen (Kempten 1996).
Partners
Archäologischer Park Cambodunum
Bayerisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege
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