The History of Steam Rooms

Where steam rooms originally originated from is surrounded by a lot of controversy, it does not seem that anyone really knows the answer

Finnish inhabitants claim that they invented a form of steam room as far back as the Stone Age. In Finland the word for sauna does translate as ‘smoky’, however, this is not really evidence that they created the steam room. The Russians have also had something very similar for a long time. As have the Turk’s whose baths are legendary. When the Spanish conquistadors reached America they found that the Aztecs had created their own version of a steam room called a temazcal.

In Ancient Rome, they were quick to work out the benefits of water therapy. Combined with the sophisticated Roman technology and their love for new luxuries they designed places to rival the best modern spas. Some of these Roman Baths are still very well preserved in Bath. The Roman’s created three different types of baths or thermae; they were the frigidarium, the cold baths, tepidarium, the warm baths, and the caldarium or the steam bath. People would socialise in these baths for hours, they discussed business, chatted and generally relaxed. The Aztecs saw there steam rooms or temazcal as a cleansing and healing place.

Up until recently steam rooms in Finland have been places of quasi-religious, quasi-medical significance. However, now, Finnish families tend to view steam rooms as wholesome places where they can go with the family maybe to catch up or just spend some time together. Steam rooms used to be viewed by the early Church as sinful, because of the association of the two elements, fire and water, which they viewed as pagan activity. In nineteenth century England steam baths were used mostly by people who were ill looking for a cure that didn’t involve medicine.

The most commonly accepted theory of the origin of steam rooms is that they come from Finland where they were developed for their therapeutic properties. This is still the reason why steam rooms are used today; they create an atmosphere that is both relaxing and healing.