The Capito Baths (Latin: Capito Thermae) are one of the most significant ancient thermal complexes in the city of Miletus, built in the 1st century AD during the Roman Empire. Their construction is associated with the name of Gnaeus Vergilius Capito, a Roman procurator of the province of Asia, who financed the project as part of the city`s urban development.
Miletus, a major Ionian polis on the western coast of Asia Minor, already had developed infrastructure, including public baths, during the Hellenistic period. However, the Roman era introduced new standards in the construction of thermae—larger in scale, with a more advanced heating system (hypocaust) and a greater variety of rooms.
Architecture and Function of the Capiton Baths
The Capito Thermae were a classic Roman bath complex, which included:
• Apodyterium (changing room)
• Frigidarium (cold hall with a pool)
• Tepidarium (warm room for gradual heating)
• Caldarium (hot bath with a heated floor)
• Laconicum (dry steam room, similar to a sauna)
• Palaestrae (exercise courtyards for physical training)
Like other Roman baths, the Capito Thermae served not only hygienic purposes but also functioned as an important social hub, where the citizens of Miletus discussed business, made deals, and relaxed.
Connection to the Sanctuary of Apollo Delphinios
Miletus was closely linked to the cult of Apollo Delphinios—the patron god of navigation and colonization. The main sanctuary of the god, the Delphinion, was located near the Capito Baths.
Before visiting the temple, worshippers performed purification rituals, and the thermae may have been used for this purpose. The bath complex was integrated into the sacred landscape of the city, emphasizing the connection between physical cleanliness and spiritual purity. The construction of the baths near such an important sanctuary highlighted their status and may have been part of the Apollo priesthood’s urban development program.
The Capito Thermae remained in use until late antiquity but gradually fell into decline after earthquakes and climatic changes. Today, their ruins can be seen among the archaeological remains of Miletus—a testament to the high level of engineering and public life during the Roman era.
