Archaeologists Discover Luxury 2000-Year-Old Spa Complex for Spicy Relaxation in Pompeii

During excavations in a wealthy neighbourhood of ancient Pompeii, archaeologists discovered a luxurious, sophisticated thermal complex. This home spa is one of the largest found in the city, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, The Guardian reports. 

The complex of baths was discovered in a grand residence that demonstrates the diversity of life in Pompeii before the disaster. Scientists assume that the building belonged to a member of the city's elite and was used as a tool to confirm the owner's high social status, including for election. 

Source: Pompeii archaeological park‘This is an example of how a Roman domus (a type of city house - ed.) served as a stage for an artistic and cultural show that the owner staged to get votes or to gain the goodwill of guests,’ said Gabriel Zuchtrigel, director of the archaeological park.

The home spa was connected to an elegant banqueting hall decorated with frescoes. The baths could accommodate up to 30 people at a time, who moved between three pools: the caldarium with hot water, the tepidarium with warm water, and the frigidarium with cold water. 

Scholars believe that the baths were used to relax guests after festive feasts. 

‘Everything was functional for putting on a ‘show’ with the owner at the centre,’ explained Zuchtrigel.

Earlier, researchers found out that the four people whose bodies were found in Pompeii did not belong to the same family, as previously assumed. DNA analysis showed that the ‘mother’ was actually a man and had no genetic relationship with the children.