The Roman bath-house at Humeima in its architectural and social context

"In early second century Provincia Arabia, a Roman fort was built next to the Nabataean settlement of Hawar (Humeima in modern Jordan). Excavation indicates that Hawar''s fort-complex contained many of the components traditionally associated with Roman forts, including an external bath-house. This thesis places Hawar''s bath-house in both its architectural and social-cultural context. The first goal is achieved by comparing this bath-house with 172 other baths associated with Roman forts, and with 175 baths in the ancient Near East. The analysis reveals that this is a typical Roman military bath. The second goal, to recreate the bath''s social context, is approached by considering evidence from other sources about the purpose of this building, who used it, when it was used, and how it was used. Two appendices contain catalogues of comparative bath material. A third appendix argues that this Roman bath was used into the early Islamic period (c. 687-750)."