Archaeologists Unearth Largest Ever 'Once-in-a-Century' Private Bathhouse in Pompeii Linked to Aulus Rustius Verus

Jan 17, 2025, 07:24 AM

Archaeologists have unearthed a 'once-in-a-century' discovery in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, revealing a large private bathhouse that had been buried under volcanic debris for 2,000 years. The bathhouse, potentially the largest ever found in Pompeii, features a suite of hot, warm, and cold rooms adorned with exquisite artwork and a massive plunge pool. The complex is part of a grand residence believed to belong to Aulus Rustius Verus, an influential Pompeii politician. The excavation also uncovered two skeletons, a woman aged between 35 and 50 and a younger man in his teens or early 20s, who were found in a small room, victims of the AD79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The woman was clutching gold and silver coins and jewelry, while the man held keys. The bathhouse's discovery sheds light on the stark contrast between the lives of the wealthy and the slaves who maintained the bathhouse's operations.