Forum Baths Palestra

Forum Baths Palestra

View of the Exercise Area (Palestra) inside of the Forum Baths.  This open area is surrounded on three sides by covered porticos—one visible on the right side of the picture.

The Forum Baths are located just north of the Central Forum of Pompeii—north of the Temple of Jupiter.  The men's section is much larger than the women's.  There are entrances into the bath from streets on the east, north, and west.

This bath was constructed when the colony of Pompeii was founded in 80 B.C.  Like many buildings in Pompeii, it was severely damaged in the earthquake of A.D. 62.  The well–preserved frescos and stucco work date to that restoration.  Thus, these were only 18 years old when Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79.