Pompeii's opulent past unearthed: Lavish baths and politics
During recent excavations in Pompeii, a complex of private baths adjoining a banquet hall was discovered. It is one of the largest and most impressive discoveries of recent years, shedding new light on the life of the Roman elite in the 1st century AD.
Archaeologists worked in the Pompeii area, Regio IX. They discovered a vast, private bath complex that adjoined the banquet hall of one of the wealthy villas. These discoveries suggest that Roman homes could serve as stages for lavish parties, which played an essential role in the social and political life of the contemporary elite.
The luxurious baths next to the ballroom could accommodate up to 30 people
The newly discovered baths consist of three types: caldarium, tepidarium, frigidarium (hot, warm, and cold baths) and apodyterium (changing room). Based on the benches in the changing room, it is estimated that the baths could accommodate up to 30 people. The baths are adjacent to a large dining hall ("black salon" discovered a few months ago), suggesting they were used for hosting opulent banquets.
"It is an example of how the Roman domusacted as the setting for artistic and cultural shows that the owner staged to gain votes or win the favour of his guests," commented Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, quoted in a communication from the Pompeii park.
The villa and bath complex belonged to an influential politician of Pompeii
Researchers believe that the house where the bath was discovered must have belonged to a prominent figure in local society, probably the influential politician Aulus Rustius Verus. The rich decorations and scale of the bath complex evidence this. Researchers believe he organised lavish parties to gain electoral support, promote the candidacies of his friends and relatives, and solidify his social position.
These discoveries confirm that the Roman elite prioritised hospitality, extravagance, and entertainment. Feasts and baths were not only ways to relax but also opportunities to demonstrate wealth, power, and cultural aspirations.
Numerous paintings on the walls depict the Trojan War and athletes. According to Gabriel Zuchtriegel, these must have given the spaces a "Greek atmosphere, in other words, an environment full of culture and erudition as well as relaxation (otium)." Everything was designed to stage a "show," where the owner was the centre of attention.
Excavations revealed more bodies of inhabitants
During the excavations, two human skeletons were discovered in the house - a woman aged 35-50 and a young man aged 18-22, showing the terror that the inhabitants of Pompeii had to face during the eruption of Vesuvius. Evidence indicates they were surprised by a pyroclastic flow when they took refuge in a small room. Researchers note that the jewellery and coins found with the woman suggest her high social status. Meanwhile, wear marks on the young man's skeleton suggest he could have been a servant or slave. This discovery sheds light on the luxurious life of the Roman elite and the contrast between the wealth of the owners and the hard work of the slaves.
Analysis of pyroclastic deposits allowed researchers to reconstruct the course of the Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD and determine its impact on buildings. During the excavations, the archaeologists used innovative techniques to reach the floor level without dismantling the unstable architectural elements of the colonnade.
