Clement of Alexandria, a major early Church father, was not
impressed by the bathhouses of his time.
CHAP. V. -- BEHAVIOUR IN THE BATHS.
And of what sort are their baths? Houses skilfully constructed,
compact, portable, transparent, covered with fine linen. And gold-plated
chairs, and silver ones, too, and ten thousand vessels of gold
and silver, some for drinking, some for eating, some for bathing,
are carried about with them. Besides these, there are even braziers
of coals; for they have arrived at such a pitch of self-indulgence,
that they sup and get drunk while bathing. And articles of silver
with which they make a show, they ostentatiously set out in the
baths, and thus display perchance their wealth out of excessive
pride, but chiefly the capricious ignorance, through which they
brand effeminate men, who have been vanquished by women; proving
at least that they themselves cannot meet and cannot sweat without
a multitude of vessels, although poor women who have no display
equally enjoy their baths. The dirt of wealth, then, has an abundant
covering of censure. With this, as with a bait, they hook the
miserable creatures that gape at the glitter of gold. For dazzling
thus those fond of display, they artfully try to win the admiration
of their lovers, who after a little insult them naked. They will
scarce strip before their own husbands affecting a plausible pretence
of modesty; but any others who wish, may see them at home shut
up naked in their baths. For there they are not ashamed to strip
before spectators, as if exposing their persons for sale. But
Hesiod advises
"Not to wash the skin in the women's bath."(5)
The baths are opened promiscuously to men and women; and there
they strip for licentious indulgence (for from looking, men get
to loving), as if their modesty had been washed away in the bath.(6)
Those who have not become utterly destitute of modesty shut out
strangers; but bathe with their own servants, and strip naked
before their slaves, and are rubbed by them; giving to the crouching
menial liberty to lust, by permitting fearless handling. For those
who are introduced before their naked mistresses while in the
bath, study to strip themselves in order to audacity in lust,
casting off fear in consequence of the wicked custom. The ancient
athletes? ashamed to exhibit a man naked, preserved their modesty
by going through the contest in drawers; but these women, divesting
themselves of their modesty along with their tunic, wish to appear
beautiful, but contrary to their wish are simply proved to be
wicked.(8) For through the body itself the wantonness of lust
shines clearly; as in the case of dropsical people, the water
covered by the skin. Disease in both is known from the look. Men,
therefore, affording to women a noble example of truth, ought
to be ashamed at their stripping before them, and guard against
these dangerous sights; "for he who has looked. curiously,"
it is said, "hath sinned already."(9) At home, therefore,
they ought to regard with modesty parents and domestics; in the
ways, those they meet; in the baths, women; in solitude, themselves;
and everywhere the Word, who is everywhere, "and without
Him was not anything."(10) For so only shall one remain without
failing, if he regard God as ever present with him.
Source.
From: Clement of Alexandria, Paidogogus, trans in Ante-Nicene
Fathers, Vol 2, pp279
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© Paul Halsall, 1998, 2023
