We just found the bathrooms of a Pompeii mansion. A sample of luxury and the darkest side of the Romans

Pompeya is one of the great archaeological treasures of the world. 2,000 years ago, The pyroclastic wave of Vesubio He swept and buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculano and, although archaeological excavations began in 1739, we still continue discovering the secrets of that civilization.

It is estimated that a third of the city continues to remain underground, but in recent years we have found interesting details such as the genome of a Pompeyan or carbonized papyrus rolls with such succulent details as the possible location of Plato’s tomb. During the past year, there was an important step to better understand what the society of the time was like.

First, one “Black room”About 15 meters long by six wide that it is estimated, it would have been a banquet room. The black paint of the walls would serve to hide the soot of the oil lamps and something surprising is that the frescoes of the walls were perfectly preserved. The second great discovery was the “Blue room”

This, perhaps, was more interesting due not only to the fact that the frescoes were also in a perfect condition, but to the blue pigment that is not common in Pompeian spaces, since it was reserved for the most outstanding rooms of the town. In addition, there were large amphorae and a multitude of remains of … clams.

Now, everything makes sense thanks to what has been qualified as “a unique discovery in a century”: the blue and black room were part of a house for the richest among the rich.

Pompeya’s house for the richest among the rich

Both the black room and the blue room are part of the same complex: a luxury village with one of the largest and most structured private bathrooms that have been discovered … in history. And, to get an idea of ​​the magnitude of the installation, we must imagine something like a spa, but private.

Archaeologists who are doing excavation work have detailed BBC News what the house was like, and the truth is that the bathroom occupies a luxury place. It is a spa complex that is the heart of the great residence and has hot and cold rooms, as well as a huge immersion pool.

The rooms are decorated with red paint on the walls, fresh, stone banks and mosaic floor. Archaeologists define the place as the perfect example of the “Pompeii effect.” This means that it is preserved so well that it seems that the place has just been abandoned, alive until nothing is done when, really, almost 2,000 years ago that a soul is given a bath in those facilities.

But it is not just the huge bathroom: the complex had the black room, the blue, the aforementioned spa, a laundry, rooms and a bakery, plus the private house itself. It is believed that it belonged to Aulus Rustius Verus, an influential Pompeyan politician, and can be the greatest discovery in the town so far.

“There are only a few houses that have a private bathroom complex, so it was something really reserved for the richest of the rich. And this is so huge that it is probably the largest bathroom complex in a private house in Pompeya, ”says Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeya Archaeological Park.

And that the huge bathroom was next to the bakery and the dining room is not something unusual. The link between the BAOS and the great dining room gives an idea of ​​how the house was a scenario for the celebration of banquets and to make contacts between the high spheres of the time. Celebrating a gun with guests and then enjoying a bathroom, or vice versa, was a political tool to collect electoral support from guests or simply to boast power.

And what attracts attention is the pool, with a depth of one meter, occupying the central space of a 10 x 10 meter porticated patio. Zuchtriegel comments that “everything was designed to set up a show in which the owner was the center of attention. The paintings, with themes of the Trojan War and scenes that represent athletes, represented an environment full of culture and erudition, as well as relaxation. ”

In addition, he argues that “the public, grateful and satiated, would have applauded the show mounted by the host and owner of the house with sincere admiration, becoming the subject of conversation for a while.” And, beyond the bathrooms themselves, the rear boiler room has been found with pipes and lead systems that heated and distributed hot water, with a valve system that regulated the flow in the different spa rooms.

And it is something that also allows you to see the differences of life between the classes, with the owners of the house giving sumptuous bathrooms while the slaves ‘roasted’ feeding the ovens to heat the water.

Not everyone was so lucky

Now, not all discoveries allow us to look at scenes as relaxing as a good comilona or a relaxing bath. In a small room adjacent to the Blue Room, the remains of two Pompeyans who could not escape the eruption have been found. It is estimated that they were a man and a woman who could not escape because the pyroclastic flow already ran freely through the streets.

It was what caused the collapse of a wall that crushed the man, while the woman was still alive. Quickly, the room was filled with the lava, causing the death of the woman. The bone analysis shows that the male skeleton was from someone of a young age, but with wear in the bones that indicates that it was someone of minor status. The woman was older, but her bones and teeth were in good condition.

In addition, in the room there was an assortment of jewels and other elements, such as coins that the woman’s skeleton had “grabbed.” The researchers believe they were people of two very different social strata, but that they agreed in the room seeking to take refuge from the Vesubio flow. It didn’t go well.

Sophie there is another of the archaeologists who work on the site and comments on BBC that “every day is a surprise”, something that will surely continue giving the researchers joy, because you are esteem There are more than 1,000 homes and 13,000 rooms in the neighborhood that are excavating.

In addition, the archaeologist affirms that it is a discovery that “occurs once every century” and speaks not only of that luxurious and opulent life of the wealthiest, but of the hardships that passed those who were to serve the lords. In this case, those who roasted in the boiler while the Lord and his guests enjoyed the hot bath.

Images | Pompeiisites

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