A fascinating architectural structure has emerged from the ruins of Pompeii, a city destroyed in 79 AD during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Italy. The eruption buried Pompeii along with the towns of Herculaneum and Stabiae under layers of ash, erasing them from the map for centuries.
Nearly two millennia later, archaeologists have discovered an elaborate and sizable bath complex in the ruins of ancient Pompeii. Found during the excavation of a house in the affluent Regio IX area on Via di Nola, the bath is believed to have been used by its owner to host important guests.
A Symbol of Status
The complex, with its thermal pools, is connected to a dining hall adorned with frescoes depicting the first encounter between Helen of Troy and Paris, inspired by the Trojan War. Considered the largest bathhouse discovered in the archaeological park of Pompeii in southern Italy, the structure is thought to have belonged to a wealthy resident who used it to confirm their social standing by entertaining elite guests.
The bath complex consists of three pools: the caldarium (hot), tepidarium (warm), and frigidarium (cold). It could accommodate approximately 30 people in total. Additionally, there is a changing room (apodyterium) featuring a mosaic floor.
A Space for Social Interaction
In that era, such complexes not only served as spaces for personal hygiene but also functioned as hubs of social interaction where business deals were made and political discussions took place. Hosting banquets or receiving guests in such spaces was a way for influential individuals to affirm their social status.
The perfectly preserved remains of the ancient city of Pompeii, destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, have offered extensive insights into daily life in Roman times through excavations that began in the 19th century.
