Communal bath. Woodcut from JJ Hugel Von heilsamen Badern des Teutschelands ..., Mullhause, c1559. Mixed public baths were a feature of city life, particularly in many of the German city states

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Communal bath. Woodcut from JJ Hugel Von heilsamen Badern des Teutschelands ..., Mullhause, c1559. Mixed public baths were a feature of city life, particularly in many of the German city states

527304 Communal bath. Woodcut from JJ Hugel Von heilsamen Badern des Teutschelands ..., Mullhause, c1559. Mixed public baths were a feature of city life, particularly in many of the German city states, but were banned after syphilis and gonorrhea reached epidemic proportions.; Universal History Archive/UIG

Media ID 38209002

© Universal History Archive/UIG / Bridgeman Images

Banned Bath Baths Communal Contagion Disease Epidemic Feature Hygiene Illness Infectious Mixed Pandemic Proportions Public Reached Sexually Sick Sickness States Syphilis Transmitted Woodcut

EDITORS COMMENTS
This woodcut print from 1559 depicts a communal bath scene, showcasing a common feature of city life in many German city states during that time. The image offers a glimpse into the shared public bathing practices of the era, highlighting the importance of hygiene and social interaction in these spaces. However, as history tells us, these mixed public baths were eventually banned due to the outbreak of diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea, which reached epidemic proportions. The spread of infectious illnesses through communal bathing facilities led to concerns about public health and safety, ultimately resulting in their prohibition. Despite their eventual demise, images like this woodcut serve as valuable reminders of past societal norms and practices. They offer insights into how people once gathered together for communal activities like bathing, shedding light on historical customs and traditions that have since evolved or disappeared altogether. Through this print, we are transported back in time to an era when communal baths were a central aspect of urban life in Germany. It serves as a visual record of a bygone practice that shaped the daily routines and interactions of individuals living in those bustling city states centuries ago.

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