New remnants have been uncovered by archaeologists recently in Pompeii, revealing remarkable insights into the opulence of Roman life.
Hidden beneath volcanic debris for two millennia, this "once-in-a-century" find comprises hot, warm, and cold rooms, adorned with exquisite artwork and featuring a grand plunge pool, reports the BBC.
This spa-like complex, located at the heart of a palatial residence excavated over the past two years, exemplifies the grandeur of the city before its destruction in 79 AD.
Dr Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, expressed the immediacy of the discovery, saying, "It's almost as if the people had only left a minute ago."
Vivid red walls, mosaic floors, and stone benches adorn the bathhouse's changing room, where guests would prepare for their bathing rituals.
The cold room's plunge pool, more than a metre deep, could accommodate 20 to 30 bathers, embodying the communal luxury of ancient Roman society.
Further excavation of the site revealed a dramatic narrative of the inhabitants' final moments.
The skeletons of a woman and a young man, trapped during the catastrophic eruption, were discovered in a small room. The woman, clutching jewellery and coins, lay atop a bed, while the man, possibly a slave, succumbed to the collapse of a wall.
"This is a dramatic place, and everything you find here tells you about the drama," noted Dr Ludovica Alesse, a Pompeii conservator.
The ongoing excavation, the most extensive in decades, continues to reveal new facets of Roman life, with the latest findings poised to be showcased to the public in due course.
