Just like Pompeii and Herculaneum, the ancient Roman city of Somma Vesuviana was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
According to a team of archaeologists from the University of Tokyo, a spacious villa over 2,000 years old likely belonged to the first Roman emperor, Octavian Augustus (63 BC – 14 AD).
What Researchers Discovered
The ruins of Somma Vesuviana, preserved beneath a thick layer of volcanic ash, are located on the northern side of Vesuvius in the Campania region. A team led by Professor Mariko Muramatsu, an expert in Italian studies, began excavating this lesser-known ancient Roman city in 2002.
According to the chemical analysis conducted by the team, the volcanic pumice covering the ruins was formed as a result of a pyroclastic flow of lava, rocks, and hot gases during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Historical sources indicate that Augustus died at his villa, situated to the northeast of Vesuvius. A memorial was later built there to commemorate the emperor’s achievements. However, the exact location of the villa and the memorial remained a mystery until recently.
Initially, archaeologists uncovered part of a building that had been used as a storage facility. Along its walls stood dozens of ceramic amphorae that once held wine. The team then discovered the remains of an ancient furnace. Part of its wall had collapsed, scattering tiles across the floor. In ancient Rome, the furnace was used to heat baths, as reported by Arkeonews.
Radiocarbon dating revealed that the furnace was in use around the first century AD. Researchers found no signs of later use.
Archaeologists believe the villa may have belonged to Emperor Octavian Augustus, as it featured its own large bath. Such a luxury would have been reserved for a very influential figure. According to the scientists, the bath had not been used for approximately the same period since Augustus’s death. Later, something resembling a large temple was built on the site. This structure was also buried under a layer of ash due to the eruption of Vesuvius, but it occurred in the 5th century, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Among other artifacts, the villa preserved intricately crafted columns and a statue of the ancient Greek god of wine and winemaking, Dionysus (known as Bacchus to the Romans).
According to Masanori Aoyagi, an honorary professor of Western classical archaeology at the University of Tokyo, this research will help scholars “assess the damage inflicted on the northern side of Vesuvius and gain the most comprehensive understanding of the eruption of 79 AD.”