Soaking in a tub might seem like the most routine thing to do now, but throughout history, bathing has had a lot of significance in both eastern and western cultures. Historically, bathing has been absolutely crucial to maintaining health, serenity, and piece of mind. The Romans and Greeks constructed the first elaborate bathhouses, and bathing was less about getting clean and more about having a luxe place to socialize. Ancient bath houses also held many events and social activities,while also having private areas for people to clean their bodies. Washing the body was often thought of as a spiritual cleansing, and often, healers were brought in to assist people while bathing. In Japan, bathing was also considered a spiritual pursuit, but it was one that focused on purity. The Japanese believe in the healing power of cleanliness, and their ancient bathhouses were communal and simply constructed. All of that considered, these photos of dogs taking a bath might be the most historically important bathing-related images to date. Just look at the face on #21.
