The Ancient Romans were no strangers to excessively hot weather, as many people are now experiencing. The sweltering months of July and August were nicknamed dies canincula – the ‘dog days’ of summer – presumably because it felt like wearing a fur coat and they panted a lot! However, the Dog Star Sirius also rose in July/August and it is thought the Romans were of the opinion that its ascension caused the hot weather.

Dog days of summer in Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome also experienced a period of extremely hot weather from 250 BC to AD 400, known as the Roman Climatic Optimum – the Roman Warm Period. This period was only identified in the 1990s as a significant change in the weather of the Roman Empire. The climate of Ancient Rome varied at different times, however – sometimes it was cooler and damper and at other times hot and dry. The cooler periods lasted throughout the period of the Roman Empire and were known as the Subatlantic period, extending across the European countries we now know. Climate researchers have used evidence from the growth of trees and other plants and life forms – and also testimony from ancient texts – to identify periods when the climate changed.

How did Ancient Romans cool down?

So how would Ancient Romans deal with a heatwave? The obvious solution was to visit the public baths and enjoy the cooling water of the Frigidarium, the chamber for swimming which offered some bracing waters to close the pores after the warm waters of the Tepidarium and the Calidarium, where the water was hot.

There was also the opportunity to swim in the Tiber, although the river has strong currents – Emperor Hadrian’s lover Antoninus tragically drowned while swimming in the Tiber, leaving Hadrian bereft. The Tiber’s outlet into the Tyrrhenian Sea is around 15 miles form the city of Rome and the Tiber’s depth varies from around seven feet to 15 feet. In areas of the city, such as near Trastevere, there are strong currents and a weir. Other parts of the Tiber are now almost stagnant and sadly full of litter.

Like us, the Ancient Roman would knock off (leave) work early and go home. Many wealthier families had gardens and courtyards, or would simply relax in their homes, which were cleverly designed to cope with variations of temperature. The floors and walls would be tiled or be set with mosaics – and they might have water courses built into the structures to provide cooling water, for example, just as the central heating systems were engineered to flow beneath floors to keep homes warm in cold weather.

It is also known that Ancient Romans enjoyed a type of ice cream, which was first invented in Egypt – home of that sometimes friend of Rome, Cleopatra. The ice cream might be more like sorbet – and Ancient Romans had extensive shopping malls and markets offering all sorts of goods, including a shop that sold ice the consistency of snow. Today in Italy, the frozen drink granita is popular and especially in summer. It comprises fruit syrup, such as lemon or orange, poured over crushed ice. Granita is similar to the “ice cream” Ancient Romans might have bought in shops to help keep them cool.

In summer, Ancient Romans would also wear much lighter togas – in winter they were made from wool or heavy linen. In summer, togas were made of lightweight linen and even silk for the wealthy. Usually Romans wore underwear, which was a piece of cloth wrapped round their lower torso – but maybe in summer they went commando! There are images from Roman mosaics of women wearing bikinis, however, showing just how much we have inherited from Ancient Rome. (See image above)

Wealthy Romans seeking a holiday atmosphere would undoubtedly head to Baiae, the Ibiza of the time, which was known for its debauched atmosphere. Fabulous villas were owned by emperors, senators and rich Roman citizens – and the party atmosphere was notorious. The town was situated on the shore northwest of Naples and many of the homes and statues are now famously underwater. Other holiday centres for Ancient Romans were Capri, Herculaneum and even Pompeii. But Baiae was considered the most chic and even scandalous holiday resort. What happened in Baiae stayed in Baiae.

However you are trying to keep cool this summer, take care – you can no longer bathe in the fountains in Rome, but when in Rome, but there are public water fountains and gelateria everywhere, so be as cool as an Ancient Roman if you can.

Buon viaggio!