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
Roman ruins of Pisões thick wall. The masonry and wedge bricks are specially constructed to support the structure, with gaps sealed with small stones. The dam closes a hydrological basin that extends to Beja, covering an area of . It is assumed that the reservoir created from this dam occupied a length of and area of , holding a volume . The dam helped to supply water for agriculture and recreational purposes (including the swimming pool and thermae) in the villa. Roman ruins of Pisões The Roman Ruins of Pisões (), is an important Roman villa rustica located in the civil parish of Beja