Daily Life

Across the Roman Empire, amphitheatres and theatres were important places for entertainment and public life. These large stone buildings were designed so thousands of people could sit in rising rows and clearly see the stage or arena below.

In theatres, people watched comedies, tragedies, mythological stories (tales of gods like Jupiter!), musical performances, and public speeches.

Going to the theatre or amphitheatre was a major social event. Families brought food, friends met to talk, and the crowd reacted loudly—cheering heroes, laughing at jokes, or gasping at exciting moments. These buildings were not just places for fun; they were at the heart of Roman city life.

The long colonnaded streets were lined with shops. Merchants sold food, pottery, cloth, oil, and spices. Citizens walked beneath the stone columns to stay cool in the shade. Water from nearby springs supplied public fountains and bathhouses, where people bathed, exercised, and socialized. Pictured below is the Oval Plaza of the old Roman city of Jerash in present-day Jordan.

The public baths were one of the most popular places in ancient Rome. They weren’t just for washing—they were for relaxing, talking, exercising, and making friends. Huge buildings had warm pools, cold pools, saunas, gyms, gardens, and even snack bars! Men and women went at different times of day, and everyone—from slaves to senators—used them. 

The warm water came through underground furnaces and pipes, heated by wood fires. Some baths were enormous—like the Baths of Caracalla, which could hold thousands of people at once. For many Romans, a day wasn’t complete without a long soak, a chat with friends, and a splash in the steaming pools. Pictures below are the old Roman baths in Alexandria, Egypt.