12th Century bathing

2006-01-16T00:26:19Z

68.90.235.223: /* public bathhouses */

==bathtubs==
There are many manuscript illustrations of wooden tubs, sometimes with fires
underneath them (possibly the tubs with fires underneath aren't wooden). The tubs generally appear to be half barrels which are taller than they are wide, and are usually depicted as fairly narrow - just wide enough for a person to sit on a stool in, and tall enough to reach their
chest seated. Apparently such barrels in private homes of the nobility could serve as a base for a
table in between uses. [[http://cunnan.sca.org.au/wiki/12th_Century_References#Holmes_1952]]

==river bathing==

[[http://cunnan.sca.org.au/wiki/12th_Century_References#Holmes_1952 Holmes]] cites a romance with a girl who bathes in the household
[[vivarium]] (an artificial fish pond in courtyard or kitchen to store
fresh caught live fish until eating), wearing only her shirt, on hot
days. It was considered fairly shocking that she did so in front of
males.

In the lay [[Graelant]] a maiden is bathing naked (old french: Qui en la fontaine esoit nue. - Who was naked in the pool). Her chemise is noted as being in the pile of removed clothes. However there are elements that show this is a fairy maiden, so her behaviour is not necessarily that of a proper noble lady.

The [[Holy_Roman_Emperor Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Freidrick Barbarossa]] drowning while stopping at a river to bathe
on route to the crusades.[[http://cunnan.sca.org.au/wiki/12th_Century_References#Holmes_1952]] It is likely that men of all ranks would use natural water sources to clean themselves in warmer weather. Nobles may well have worn their shirt when doing so, indeed it may have been a good time to clean the underwear too.

==sponge baths==
It is possible to clean all of one's body quite well using a basin of warm water and a cloth, and preferably some soap. This is aided if during the day most of the body has been covered from dirt by clothing, for example veils of hats covering the head, long sleeves and long shirts or pants.
The advantage of such a wash is that it uses little water, and can be performed very quickly - a huge advantage in cold weather.

We have no evidence that such a method of cleaning was used in the 12th Century, but it seems likely given the limited frequency of full tub bathing.

==washing hands==

There is quite a ritual of washing the hands before a feast. Romances talk of the ritual for welcoming a knight, after travel or hunting. Before the feast begins he is presented a basin of water and a towel to wash his hands. [[http://cunnan.sca.org.au/wiki/12th_Century_References#Holmes_1952 Holmes]] suggests water might be poured from a pitcher, over the hands, into the basin and that soap might be offered as an occasional luxury, but
not everywhere.

There are also big wash basins in romanesque monastaries so the monks could perform this ritual washing before eating. [[http://cunnan.sca.org.au/wiki/12th_Century_References#Zarnecki_1984]]

Rather strict hygene rule that operate while eating or preparing food - not so much washing as not touching the nose or mouth, using the correct hand etc. Such rituals would make frequent hand washing less important.

==public bathhouses==
In 12th C towns such as London and Paris, bath keepers kept public baths, where the general public could bathe (in the barrels mentioned above), but this does not appear to be a daily ritual. [[http://cunnan.sca.org.au/wiki/12th_Century_References#Holmes_1952]]

==ritual bathing==

Bathing was required as part of a vigil prior to a knighting.

The season of bloodletting for monks was a season of bathing and relaxation.[[http://cunnan.sca.org.au/wiki/12th_Century_References#Holmes_1952]]

==bathing and health==
bathing in the mineral springs at bath for your health, [[http://cunnan.sca.org.au/wiki/12th_Century_References#Holmes_1952]]

[[Category:12th Century|Bathing]]

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12th Century bathing