The Baths of Caracalla--by Lauren

Words and picture by Lauren

Yesterday we visited the Baths of Caracalla and got to spend a block of time walking around exploring the place. My first reaction was pure surprise at the magnitude of such a large structure and how well maintained it was given that it was built thousands of years ago. The walls stretched far above my head and they were thick, clearly well constructed and fortified by the 9,000 slaves who worked to build the four room complex for Caracalla. The interior was also relatively intact and certain elements were still clear (the apodyterium for instance was evident). We walked only about halfway around the perimeter but even that conveyed the enormous size of the structure well. 

My second reaction to the Baths was how strikingly similar it seemed to the set of one of my favorite books: The Maze Runner. The walls that reached almost unendingly to the sky were reminiscent of the ones described in the books and depicted in the movies. Layers of walls surrounded each room it seemed and although some looked less than new, they all seemed impossible to escape. The picturesque surroundings also aided in the illusion. The sky was a nice clear blue with few clouds and trees similar to the ones in "The Glade" dotted around the outside. The entire picture together gave an aura of extreme luxury coupled with the immensity.