In Roman baths, what is usually the last room used before exiting?

The last room typically used in Roman baths before exiting is the frigidarium. The frigidarium is the cold room, which features a larger cold plunge pool or basin. After utilizing the hot and warm rooms—the caldarium (hot room) and tepidarium (warm room)—patrons would cool off in the frigidarium. This practice was part of the bathing ritual that aimed to assist in circulation and invigorate the body by transitioning from hot to cold.

The other rooms have distinct purposes in the bathing sequence. The caldarium was used for soaking in hot water, which opened the pores and encouraged sweating. The tepidarium served as a transitional space, helping bathers acclimatize between the cold and hot environments. The unctorium, on the other hand, was a more private area for anointing the body with oil and is not typically the last step in the bathing process. Thus, the frigidarium serves as the logical final step in the sequence of Roman bathing, providing a refreshing end to the experience before departing the baths.