A Magnificent Private Bathhouse Unearthed in Pompeii!
For over 2,000 years, the ancient Roman city of Pompeii lay entombed beneath layers of volcanic ash and rock. Now, archaeologists have unveiled an extraordinary find – a lavish private bathhouse that may be the largest ever discovered in the city. Complete with hot, warm, and cold rooms, breathtaking artwork, and an impressive plunge pool, this discovery offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of the Roman elite.
Located within a grand residence uncovered during a two-year excavation, the bathhouse stands as a testament to the opulence enjoyed by its owners. "It’s as if the inhabitants left only moments ago," says Dr Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, describing the eerie immediacy of the site.
Photo Credit: Tony Jolliffe / BBC
A Glimpse Inside
The bathhouse complex includes a changing room with vivid red walls, mosaic flooring, and stone benches. Visitors would have begun their experience here, transitioning to the hot room where they’d soak in baths or enjoy the sauna-like heat, made possible by ingenious Roman engineering: suspended floors and hollow walls circulating warm air.
From there, bathers would move to the warm room, where oil was applied and scraped off with curved tools called strigils. Finally, they’d cool off in the frigidarium, or cold room, home to a large plunge pool capable of accommodating 20 to 30 people. Surrounded by red columns and frescoes of athletes, this was likely a social hub for the wealthy elite.
"In summer, you could sit with your feet in the water, chatting with friends, perhaps with a cup of wine in hand," says Dr Zuchtriegel, painting a vivid picture of Roman leisure.
Photo Credit: Tony Jolliffe / BBC
The People of Pompeii
This grand house also tells a tragic story. Two skeletons found in a small, undecorated room reveal the horror faced by Pompeii’s residents during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. The remains belonged to a woman, aged 35 to 50, clutching coins and jewellery, and a younger man in his teens or early twenties.
Photo Credit: Archaeological Park of Pompeii / Sophie Hay
The pair had barricaded themselves in, hoping to escape the pyroclastic flow – a deadly surge of superheated gas and ash. The man’s skeleton was crushed by a collapsing wall, while the woman curled on a bed, perhaps alive as he died. Analysis of their remains reveals a stark contrast in social status: while the man’s bones showed signs of hard labour, suggesting he may have been a slave, the woman’s were in far better condition.
Luxury and Labour
This discovery isn’t just about splendour; it also highlights the divide between rich and poor in Roman society. Behind the bathhouse’s hot room lies a boiler room, where slaves worked in sweltering heat to keep water flowing into the baths. The pipes and taps, still intact, look modern enough to function today.
Photo Credit: Tony Jolliffe / BBC
"The contrast is striking," says Dr Sophie Hay, an archaeologist at Pompeii. "On one side of the wall is the opulence of the bathhouse, and on the other, the harsh reality of the furnace room, where slaves toiled endlessly."
A Living History
In addition to the bathhouse, other parts of the residence have been uncovered, including a grand banqueting hall with dramatic black walls, a prayer room painted in soft blue, and a working bakery and laundry. Tools and materials found throughout the house suggest it was undergoing renovations at the time of the eruption.
Every artefact – from intricate jewellery and gold coins to the oyster shells waiting to be ground into wall decorations – brings Pompeii’s past closer to the present. "When we find these objects, the distance between ancient and modern life disappears," says Dr Alessandro Russo, who marvels at how pristine the finds remain.
Photo Credit: Tony Jolliffe / BBC
The Magic of Pompeii
This excavation, the largest in decades, is still ongoing, with new discoveries emerging almost daily. Limited public visits to the site are available now, but eventually, this awe-inspiring find will be fully opened to visitors.
Dr Anna Onesti, the excavation’s director, summarises the wonder of it all: "Every day here is a surprise. It’s a magical moment for Pompeii, and we’re thrilled to share it with the world."