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Bathing in medieval Europe

Washing the body was not generally considered sinful in medieval Europe, and bathhouses existed in many towns. In a letter from 866, Pope Nicholas I allowed bathing for bodily need even on fasting days, while cautioning against bathing for luxury. Attitudes toward mixed bathing and public bathhouses varied by place and time. We found no reliable support for the claim that Slavs who bathed weekly were called savages. Poor sanitation contributed to particular diseases, but linking epidemics to a supposed general ban on washing is an oversimplification. The illustration is AI-generated.

синтетична редакційна ілюстрація простої середньовічної дерев’яної купальні без людей. Створено OpenAI image generation 12 жовтня 2026 року. Prompt: “Respectful editorial illustration about medieval European bathing culture: interior of a modest wooden public bathhouse with a steaming tub and several towels, no people, simple medieval timber architecture, warm candlelight and cool water tones. Historically inspired but not a specific documented building. Clean museum-magazine illustration, no text, no religious symbols, no suggestion that bathing was universally forbidden.” Не є фотографією чи конкретною реконструкцією.

синтетична редакційна ілюстрація простої середньовічної дерев’яної купальні без людей. Створено OpenAI image generation 12 жовтня 2026 року. Prompt: “Respectful editorial illustration about medieval European bathing culture: interior of a modest wooden public bathhouse with a steaming tub and several towels, no people, simple medieval timber architecture, warm candlelight and cool water tones. Historically inspired but not a specific documented building. Clean museum-magazine illustration, no text, no religious symbols, no suggestion that bathing was universally forbidden.” Не є фотографією чи конкретною реконструкцією.