The Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro is said to as the "ancient world's first public water tank." It has dimensions of 11.88 x 7.01 metres and a maximum depth of 2.43 metres. The structure was entered through two large stairs, one from the north and one from the south. Inside there were three rows of wooden benches that could hold up to 5,000 people.
The bath provided its users with a cool place to wash themselves. There were no locks on the doors so anyone could enter at any time. The only thing kept inside the bath was cleanliness.
People would come from far and wide to use the baths. They would bring their own mats to sit on while they washed themselves. Then they would get in line to use the taps inserted into the wall. After washing themselves, they would leave the bath and go back home. This action of going home after using the bath was called "drying oneself in the sun."
The Great Bath wasn't just used for washing yourself. You could also wash animals here too. Some scholars believe that this may be the reason why don't see many dogs in ancient India. Since people used to wash both themselves and their pets, there wouldn't be much need for dogs to keep animals company in the house.
Here is another interesting fact about the Great Bath. No one knows who built it.
2.4 meters The "great bath" is without a doubt the world's first public water tank. The tank itself is around 12 meters long and 7 meters broad, with a maximum depth of 2.4 meters. It was built as part of the King's Bath in 1608 for the purpose of bathing by people who could not go to the royal baths.
In fact, it's the only known publicly accessible water tank in Europe. The story goes that the king wanted to know how deep the pool was so he ordered a ladder be placed in the center. When nobody came forward to use the ladder, they were told that the king had himself taken a bath and didn't need it anymore. This story may have been made up by historians to explain why there was no longer a need for a public bathhouse.
The great bath was located next to St. Paul's Church in the heart of London town. Today, nothing remains of the bath except for some foundations which can be seen across from where the British Museum stands today.
In conclusion, the great bath was very deep - just over two meters - and it must have been quite a sight to see people diving into the water!
At Mohenjodaro, an important construction was the Great Bath (a rectangular structure that resembled a swimming pool). It was a vast complex with six entrances, a central swimming pool, dressing rooms on all sides, and a well nearby. Steps from both sides lead to the pool's bottom. The complex was built around 2500 B.C. by the ancient Indians.
Their story begins over 5000 years ago when a powerful king named Raja Naarasimhaṇta ordered the building of his city at the banks of the Indus River. He wanted to build a city where people could live in peace and prosperity. When it was done, he called it "Mohenjo Daro" which means "Moen's Fortress".
The kingdom of Mohenjo Daro became very famous and powerful, but also decadent. In 1900 B.C., it was destroyed by a huge earthquake and flood. Only some of the buildings were preserved because they were made out of stone. But most of the artisans and workers lived in mud houses so their ruins are only found near Mohenjo Daro today.
In 1920, American archaeologists working in Pakistan discovered the remains of Mohenjo Daro. They were amazed by what they saw since there were no metals or electricity at this time. Later studies showed that it was an advanced city for its time with a wide network of roads, large markets, and public buildings.
Many experts think that Mohenjo-Great daro's Bath was utilized for specific religious events. Water was utilized to cleanse and refresh well-being during these ceremonies. People who were destitute or unclean were not permitted to enter the Great Bath. Those who could afford it paid money to be cleansed by priests inside the bath.
The rich colors, beautiful design, and excellent craftsmanship of this bathing facility suggest that it was used for more than just hygiene. It is possible that people went to the great bath to be purified for important rituals or celebrations. There are many other examples of this in ancient history: Moses washed his clothes when he entered the desert after escaping from slavery (see Exodus 30:22), and Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan. Both men were seeking forgiveness for their sins.
The Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro was a large stone enclosure with several chambers. It was probably used every day by everyone who lived there. The remains of at least seven hundred people have been found in this ancient Indian city, including children. This suggests that the population was quite large, and they must have been required to wash in the bath daily.
Modern researchers believe that the first chamber of the bath may have had water pipes leading into it from nearby streams or ponds, while the second chamber may have had water poured over a hot fire.
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