In the doomed city of Pompeii, the decadence and degeneracy of wealthy Roman aristocrats was legendary. At this elite mecca Rome’s rich and famous indulged themselves without restraint, shamelessly putting the Roman Empire’s inequality on full display for all to see.
The reality of the immense class divide in Rome has been demonstrated once again, as British archaeologists involved in extensive excavations at Pompeii have unearthed what they call a "once-in-a-century" find, in the form of a luxurious private bathhouse that was decorated with expensive artwork and featured large hot, warm and cold rooms and a huge pool. Its discoverers are saying this is likely the largest private bathhouse ever unearthed in Pompeii, which is not a distinction to be taken lightly.
This spa-like complex was installed in the interior of an expansive elite residence, which the archaeological team has been slowly excavating over the past two years. As is often the case at Pompeii, this large home and its various sections have been supremely well-preserved, protected from decay by the layers of ash that buried it following the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
- Mummified Remains Of A Former Slave Discovered At Pompeii
- The Mind-Blowing Architecture and Engineering of Rome’s Colosseum
"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," said Dr. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii who spoke to BBC News about the latest discoveries.
Map overview of the Roman living complex with bathhouse discovered in Pompeii. (Archaeological Park of Pompeii).
Taking a Bath with Money to Burn
The excavations responsible for this remarkable and unprecedented discovery are the most extensive carried out in decades, and are taking place with the full cooperation of the archaeological park. So far the archaeologists involved in these digs, which will eventually be covered in a BBC documentary, have excavated an entire city block, finding a laundry and a bakery in addition to the luxurious home with the private bathhouse.
The current working theory is that all of these structures were owned by an individual named Aulus Rustius Verus, a highly influential Pompeii politician known for showing off his wealth and prestige.
"There are just a few houses that have a private bath complex, so it was something really for the wealthiest of the wealthy," Dr Zuchtriegel noted. "And this is so huge - it's probably the biggest bath complex in a Pompeiian private home."
In its day the shiny and elaborate bathhouse truly would have been a sight to behold.
After getting undressed in its spacious changing room, which was decorated with vibrant red walls and a mosaic marble floor, a resident or guest would have moved on to the cozy hot room for a dip in a bath, in sauna-like conditions created by hot air flowing in from the furnace room (the furnace was stoked by slaves trapped in a small, hidden boiler room). From there it would have been on to the brightly-colored warm room, where the person would be given a rubdown with oil before being scraped clean with a curved instrument known as a strigil.
- Heat from Mount Vesuvius Eruption as Deadly as Hiroshima Atomic Bomb
- World’s Oldest Surviving Amphitheater Preserved at Pompeii
Finally, they would move on the frigidarium, or cold room, where they would finish their treatment by taking a plunge in a pool that was large enough to hold 20-30 people. The frigidarium in this home was truly a spectacular creation; it was supported by a phalanx of red columns and its walls were filled with striking frescoes of athletes in action.
"In the hot summers, you could sit with your feet in the water, chatting with your friends, maybe enjoying a cup of wine," Dr. Zuchtriegel said.
The large, porticoed courtyard at the heart of the frigidarium (cold room), featuring a large central pool.(Archaeological Park of Pompeii).
The bathhouse is only the latest discovery that reveals the opulence and extravagance that would have surrounded the home’s occupants and guests. Last year the archaeologists found a large banquet hall that featured jet black walls and stunningly beautiful artwork displaying various classical scenes.
At the time of the devastating natural disaster the home was apparently undergoing some sort of renovation, which likely would have made this grand residence even more flashy and luxurious.
When Nature Turns Violent, Class Distinctions Disappear
If a private spa or bathhouse that mimicked of the size and complexity of Aulus Rustius Verus’s showpiece were to be installed in a home today, it would undoubtedly require a multi-million-dollar investment. But despite the incredible wealth of the people who lived in the Roman villa and used its fancy bathhouse, they were no safer from the ravages of Mount Vesuvius than anyone else.
The latest digs unearthed two skeletons in the house who had been killed during the eruption, including a woman, aged between 35 and 50, who was holding onto jewellery and coins, and a young man in his late teens or early 20s. They had locked themselves inside a small room following the natural disaster, but like most everything else in Pompeii they were soon buried alive by the dense rivers of pyroclastic flow (volcanic gas and ash) that Mount Vesuvius produced on the 24th of August in 79 AD.
"The pyroclastic flow from Vesuvius came along the street just outside this room, and caused a wall to collapse, and that had basically crushed him to death," explained Dr. Sophie Hay, an archaeologist at Pompeii. "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."
Demonstrating their wealthy status, the two victims were surrounded by expensive items. This included elegant glassware, bronze jugs, and pottery, plus the gold and silver coins and jewelery the woman was found clutching. The recovered gold coins are shining and gleaming as if new, and the jewelry includes gold and natural pearl earrings and necklace pendants inlaid with semi-precious stones.
Painting entitled ‘The Last Day of Pompeii’ (1830), currently on display at the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. (Public Domain).
"The most powerful thing from these excavations is that stark contrast between the lives of the slaves and the very, very rich. And here we see it," Dr. Hay stated. "The difference between the sumptuous life of the bathhouse, compared to the furnace room, where the slaves would be feeding the fire toiling all day. A wall is all that could divide you between two different worlds."
The excavation is in its final weeks, but there is hope that even more artifacts from the last days of Pompeii are waiting to be recovered. Eventually the dig site will be fully opened to the public, and the BBC documentary detailing the latest discoveries to emerge from under the ash of Pompeii should be released later this year.
Top image: The apodyterium (changing room) discovered in the Roman bathhouse.
Source: Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
By Nathan Falde
