The origin of the Word ‘SPA.’
The word spa is derived from a Belgian town named Aquae Spadanae in Latin. The Latin phrase translates as “water spa,” which comes from the verb spargere, which means to sprinkle, to wet. Since medieval times, the town’s bath and its water rich in iron have been used to treat diseases caused by an iron deficiency. The settlement has been called Espa by those who wanted to be cured. People started calling other curing baths and their treatments “spas” when the concept of curing and water treatments intertwined with the settlement.
When we hear the word ‘spa,’ we think of an elegant retreat, relaxing massages, beauty treatments, and other luxurious indulgences. A place for healing and nourishing the mind, body, and spirit—a center for fitness, stress management, pampering, health, and wellness.
In the beginning, what we now call spas were primarily hailed for their health benefits. Water was attributed with various magical and has always been based on the healing powers & beneficial properties of water.
The Ancient Bathing Culture Played An Important Role
To understand the origin of ‘spa,’ let’s discuss where it all began – bathing.
Ancient Egypt
According to historians, Egyptian civilization was one of the most advanced societies of the ancient world that paved the way for what we now know today as the beauty & wellness industry. Ancient Egyptians attributed tremendous importance to personal hygiene and were one of the first civilizations to practice bathing to keep the body clean. Bathing for them means cleansing and enjoying luxury; this often meant one ranked much higher than ordinary people in the social hierarchy by ordering servants or slaves to bring jugs of water to special shower rooms for wealthy community members.
Additionally, Egyptians enjoyed bathing in the Nile, the river that runs through their country. Several ancient Egyptian tombs have pictures showing people getting ready for the bath.
Ancient Greece
The Greeks adopted the idea from Egyptians, and they believed bathing could be therapeutic, treating illnesses, aside from maintaining personal hygiene.
Greek bathing rituals formed the basis for modern spa treatments.
The Greeks improved bathing by creating the first drainage systems, and they used lead pipes to transport water to and from rooms. Spartan warriors (ancient Greek soldiers) believed that gods bless tidal pools and would heal them. Hence, they built bathing facilities around sacred pools for those seeking healing.
Showers were made accessible to those on the lower rank of society, with artwork depicting communal areas where everyone washed together.
Ancient Rome
The Romans took the Greek idea, taking bathing to a new level; bath rituals included steam baths, massages, and rest afterward. They built large thermal bathhouses’ ‘thermae’ and developed advanced sewer systems built for disposing of wastewater.
Spas Throughout Europe and Beyond
In Europe, the Middle East, and Northern Africa, such as Morocco bathing culture, Roman culture has been most heavily influenced by their presence in many countries they occupied. Bath rituals sprang up as a place to socialize and relax. Among the ruins of thermal baths throughout the Roman empire is testimony to these establishments’ extent influence. Bathhouse culture and architecture are widely distributed, and many historical ‘spa towns’ and resorts continue to operate or have recently been restored.
Modern-Day Spa
Modern spas combine ancient traditions with modern technological marvels. Like the ancient spa, the modern spa is built around water and the rituals centered around it. Water is still used as a healing resource and magical plants and essential oils to release toxins, loosen muscles, and relax the mind and spirit. Spas of any kind can now be created with modern technology, and many other types of treatments are also available, using ancient and contemporary techniques.
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