Thermae thieves and pickpockets were known to frequent the baths. The changing room was known as the "apodyterium" (from Greek "apodyterion" from "apoduein" "to take off"). In many ways, baths were the ancient Roman equivalent of community centres. Because the bathing process took so long, conversation was necessary. Many Romans would use the baths as a place to invite their friends to dinner parties, and many politicians would go to the baths to convince fellow Romans to join their causes. The thermae had many attributes in addition to the baths. There were libraries, rooms for poetry readings, and places to buy
Glossary of ancient Roman religion For public religious holidays, see Roman festivals. For temples see the List of Ancient Roman temples. Individual landmarks of religious topography in ancient Rome are not included in this list; see Roman temple. The verb "abominari" ("to avert an omen", from "ab-", "away, off," and "ominari", "to pronounce on an omen") was a term of augury for an action that rejects or averts an unfavourable omen indicated by a "signum", "sign". The noun is "abominatio", from which English "abomination" derives. At the taking of formally solicited auspices ("auspicia impetrativa"), the observer was required to acknowledge any potentially bad sign occurring