Archaeologists have unearthed a massive private bathhouse that remained hidden beneath volcanic rock and ash for 2,000 years in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, in what is being hailed as a “once-in-a-century” find.
As reported by the BBC, the bathhouse consists of hot, warm and cold rooms, exquisite artwork, and a huge plunge pool.
Pompei, emerge un grande complesso termale dagli scavi della Regio IX @MiC_Italia @pompeii_sites https://t.co/lKVoHevq9f
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This complex is a part of a larger residence that archaeologists have been excavating and examining over the last few years. Around one third of the city still remains buried beneath the volcanic ash.
“It’s these spaces that really are part of the ‘Pompeii effect’—it’s almost as if the people had only left a minute ago,” Dr Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii was quoted as saying to the BBC.
The bathhouse complex is located inside a larger residence, which archaeologists believe may have belonged to a wealthy family of the city, or, most likely, Aulus Rustius Verus, an influential Pompeiian politician.
Pompeii: The New Dig. BBC 2, 20 Jan, 21:00.https://t.co/CYGHwHPLif
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“There are just a few houses that have a private bath complex, so it was something really for the wealthiest of the wealthy,” Zuchtriegel added.
Skeletons unearthed in Pompeii’s bathhouse
The archaeologists analyzed two skeletons discovered in the house and revealed the trauma that the residents of the city must have faced when the volcanic lava flooded their homes.
The bodies belonged to a woman aged between 35 and 50, and a boy in his teens.
“The woman was still alive while he was dying—imagine the trauma—and then this room filled with the rest of the pyroclastic flow, and that’s how she died,” Dr Sophie Hay, an archaeologist at Pompeii, told the BBC.
At the time of their death, the boy held some keys while the woman had gold and silver coins and jewelry in her hands.
“She was probably someone higher up in society,” Dr Hay said. “She could have been the wife of the owner of the house—or maybe an assistant looking after the wife, we just don’t know.”
Pompeii unveils its secrets
Pompeii, frozen in time by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, continues to unveil its secrets, captivating historians and archaeologists alike.
Each new excavation sheds light on the daily lives, cultural practices and architectural ingenuity of its inhabitants, offering a vivid snapshot of a civilization preserved under layers of volcanic ash. Recent discoveries, from intricately decorated frescoes to remarkably intact artifacts, deepen our understanding of Roman society, illuminating aspects of art, commerce, and urban planning.
For example, a room with painted blue walls, a very rare color in Pompeii, has emerged during recent excavations in the central area of the ancient city.
The stunning blue-ground walls were decorated with female figures representing the four seasons and allegorical representations of agriculture and pastoralism, according to experts.
Related: Greek Mythology Frescoes Discovered in Stunning Pompeii Find
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