Oh! Oh! A pool at England's ancient Bath Spa will re-open for swimming! The Guardian tells all about it, giving information about the renovation, and some of the site's history.
The earliest recorded visitors to Bath threw an offering of flint tools into the steaming spring 7,000 years ago.
Millennia later, according to Celtic legend, a chieftain called Bladud became a swineherd, when he was expelled from court because of his leprosy. He watched his scabby pigs wallowing in hot mud, admired their restored pink complexions, plunged in himself, and was healed.
The city's prosperity has since been built on torrents of hot water, reeking of bad eggs and pouring from the earth at the rate of 1.2m litres a day.
The Romans worshipped the goddess of the springs, and built opulent complexes of temples and bath houses. [continue]
Just look at this photo of an ancient swimming pool at Bath. Built by the Romans, even! Wouldn't you love to swim in something like that?
Posted on December 31, 2002 12:25 PM. Filed under: history & archaeology.