An excavation of the lost ancient city of Pompeii in Naples, Italy, has unearthed a well-preserved private thermal spa dating back almost 2,000 years.

Pompeii, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, was once a thriving Roman city before it was engulfed by volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted on 24 August AD 79. The site is now an archaeological park and has been gradually excavated since the 16th century.

The recently discovered private spa is large enough to accommodate 30 guests and was found during the excavation of a home believed to belong to a wealthy member of Pompeii’s elite. The spa includes a caldarium (hot bath), a tepidarium (warm bath), a frigidarium (cold bath) and an apodyterium (changing room).

Bathing and communal gatherings were essential aspects of Ancient Roman culture and society, contributing not only to health but also to social status. Archaeologists noted that the baths are located next to the home’s expansive banqueting area. This design allowed hosts to impress their guests by inviting them to relax in the baths before attending a meal, showcasing their wealth.

“Everything was designed to stage a ‘show’, in which the owner was the centre of attention,” emphasises Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.

“It is an example of how the Roman domus (house) acted as the setting for artistic and cultural shows that the owner staged to gain votes or win the favour of their guests."

Archaeologists claim the discovery is one of the largest and most well-structured ancient private bathing complexes ever discovered in the ancient city.

Only a few other bathing complexes of similar size have come to light in Pompeii, including the baths of the Praedia of Julia Felix, and the bathhouses in the House of the Labyrinth and Villa di Diomede.