ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Greek baths of Gela

Greek baths of Gela were large public bathing houses that existed in the ancient Greek city of Gela. Just like how your mommy and daddy make you take a bath to get clean, Ancient Greeks also used to take baths to keep their body clean and healthy.

These baths were built a long time ago and were a very important part of Greek culture. People could go there to get clean, relax and socialize with their friends. The Gela baths were special because they were built using the latest technology and had separate areas for men and women to bathe.

Once you got to the bathhouse, the first thing you did was take your clothes off and store them in a locker. Then you would enter the warm room or 'tepidarium' where the temperature was just right. Here you could soak in a warm pool and chat with your friends.

Next, you would move on to the hot room or 'calidarium’ where you would take a steam bath to make you sweat. This would help to flush out any toxins from your body and make you feel refreshed.

After the hot room, you would move to the cold pool or ‘frigidarium’ where the water was really cold. This might seem strange, but after the hot room, you would appreciate the coolness of the water. It was like jumping into a pool on a hot summer day!

Finally, you would end your bath by relaxing in the dry room or 'laconicum'. Here you would wrap yourself in a warm blanket and rest until you were fully relaxed.

So, in a nutshell, the Greek baths of Gela were fancy public bathhouses where people could go to get clean, relax and socialize with their friends. They were important to the Ancient Greeks and were built using the latest technology to ensure people had an enjoyable experience.