Academic journal articles or conference presentations

Gabriel Zuchtriegel Announces Discovery of Largest Private Thermal Bath Complex in Pompeii from 2,000 Years Ago

Jan 17, 2025, 03:20 PM

Archaeologists have unearthed a large and sophisticated private thermal bath complex in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, marking a significant discovery described as a 'once-in-a-century' find by Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii archaeological park. The complex, located within a private residence in the Regio IX area, is believed to be the largest of its kind found in a Pompeian home. The bathhouse, equipped with hot, warm, and cold rooms, as well as a large pool, was connected to a banquet hall, suggesting it served as a venue for social gatherings and displays of wealth by the city's elite. The site, buried by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, also yielded personal artifacts such as jewelry and coins from 2,000 years ago, highlighting the opulence of the owner, possibly Aulus Rustius Verus. This discovery sheds light on the social dynamics of ancient Pompeii, where such spaces were used to foster political support and affirm social status.