Ancient Roman Baths in Bath, England Spa therapies have existed since the classical times
when taking bath with water was considered as a popular means to treat illnesses.
The practice of traveling to hot or cold springs in hopes of effecting a cure of some ailment
dates back to pre-historic times. Archaeological investigations near hot springs in France
and Czech Republic revealed Bronze Age weapons and offerings. In Great Britain, ancient
legend credited early Celtic kings with the discovery of the hot springs in Bath, England.
Many people around the world believed that bathing in a particular spring, well, or river
resulted in physical and spiritual purification. Forms of ritual purification existed among
the Native Americans, Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.
Today, ritual purification through water can be found in the religious ceremonies of Jews,
Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and Hindus. These ceremonies reflect the ancient belief in the
healing and purifying properties of water. Complex bathing rituals were also practiced in
ancient Egypt, in pre-historic cities of the Indus Valley, and in Aegean civilizations.
Most often these ancient people did little building construction around the water, and what
they did construct was very temporary in nature.