"Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness at a time when most people did not have access to private bathing facilities. The term "public" ...
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is not completely accurate, as some types of public baths are restricted depending on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other reasons. As societies have changed, the need for public baths has reduced: dwellings now have their own private bathroom. Public baths have also become incorporated into the social system as meeting places. As the title suggests, public bathing does not refer only to bathing. In ancient times public bathing included saunas, massages and relaxation therapies, comparable to today´s spas." - (en.wikipedia.org 03.09.2020)
