![]() The Roman Pool complex was designed to contain an exercise room, sweat baths, a handball court and dressing rooms. However, in Hearst’s complex there were no hot or cold baths as there were in the ancient complex. ![]() The pool, like the baths, is located indoors. The pool and surrounding room, which were built from 1927-1934, can be compared to an ancient Roman bath. One such copy represents the “Apoxyomenos.” Statuary was used on a considerable scale in the Baths of Caracalla. The statues are rough copies of ancient Greek and Roman statues. They are also representative of traditional marine monster themes that can be found in ancient Roman baths. The mosaic tiled patterns were inspired by mosaics found in the 5th Century Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna, Italy. The pool appears to be styled after an ancient Roman bath such as the Baths of Caracalla in Rome c. The Roman Pool at Hearst Castle is a tiled indoor pool decorated with eight statues of Roman gods, goddesses and heroes. Other notable aspects of the Neptune Pool include the oil-burning heating system, the Vermont marble that lines the basin, gutters, and alcove, and four Italian relief sculptures on the sides of the colonnades. It is 3.5 feet deep at the west end, 10 feet at the drains, and holds 345,000 gallons of water. The final version of the pool as it stands at the Castle today is 104 feet long, 58 feet wide and 95 feet wide at the alcove. The recess of the main pool and the small pool above to receive your ‘Neptune’ group I have not touched since my visit with you last year – so please do not think of them except as something yet to be done to form a proper background and setting for your ‘Venus’ as well as your ‘Neptune’ statuary.” The “Neptune” sculpture group by Cassou intended for the small upper pool was never installed. On July 27, 1936, Morgan wrote in a letter to Charles Cassou, “enclosed is a plan and some photographs of the ‘Neptune Pool’ in its present (uncompleted) state. Morgan anticipated further modifications of the pool for Cassou’s Neptune statuary group to be placed in the small upper pool. It is more likely that the colonnades and Cassou statues, which were planned from the late 1920′s, required an enlarged treatment. It is unlikely that the enlargement was done to make it closer to Olympic size, as has sometimes been conjectured Olympic pools are 165 feet long. The present version of the pool was under construction from 1934-1936. The dressing rooms were begun in 1928 and furnished according to Hearst’s instruction. ![]() The sculptures of Neptune and two nereids, now installed in the pediment of the temple, then stood at the top of the Cascade. #HIDDEN WATER POOLS CALIFORNIA SERIES#This version had a series of concrete steps at the southern side called the Cascade, down which water flowed. The second version of the pool, a substantial enlargement, was created in 1926-1927. Neptune and the two ladies can be placed but the finished basins will take some time yet.” Hearst and the children are extremely anxious to have a swimming pool!” On June 17, 1924, Morgan wrote that the first swimming pool was nearing completion: “Mr. Hearst wrote in a letter to Julia Morgan, “I am sending back the plan of the temple garden with the suggestion that we make the pool longer than it is, as long as a swimming pool. Initial plans for the site called for a “Temple Garden” with an ornamental pool and temple structure. Three swimming pools were built on this site, each successively larger. Tour Hearst Castle with a Group or SchoolĬonstruction for the first of two Hearst Castle pools, the Neptune Pool, spanned 1924-1936.Accessibly Designed Holiday Twilight Tour. ![]()
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