A unique house has been found in Pompeii, revealing how the wealthiest residents lived in the ancient Roman city (photos included).

Before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroyed Pompeii in 79 AD, it was a thriving city with many wealthy residents. Insights into the lives of affluent ancient Romans can be drawn from the discovery of a large spa complex in one of the private homes. This research has been published in the journal PLOS One, as reported by Daily Mail.

Only the very wealthy in Pompeii could afford to have a luxurious bathing complex in their private homes, according to scholars. Such a vast bathhouse, consisting of several sections, was uncovered in one of the residences where affluent ancient Romans lived. Researchers believe this is likely the largest private bathing complex found in Pompeii to date.

This spa complex was designed to accommodate up to 30 individuals as they moved between three rooms with pools: the caldarium (hot room), tepidarium (warm room), and frigidarium (cold room).

The bathing complex begins with a hot room resembling a sauna, followed by a colorful warm room where oil was likely massaged into the skin of guests, and then a cold room featuring a large pool where up to 30 people could relax. All rooms are adorned with frescoes. The bathhouse is connected to an exquisite banquet hall, whose walls are decorated with frescoes depicting heroes from the Trojan War.

Researchers believe this house belonged to a very wealthy and influential resident of Pompeii, and the bathing complex may have been used to host high-ranking guests who could support the homeowner during elections. Archaeologists think that after a lavish banquet, the guests could unwind in the ancient spa complex.

Archaeologists also discovered the remains of two individuals who barricaded themselves in a small room after the eruption of Vesuvius; however, the man was crushed by a collapsing wall while the woman perished due to the flow of superheated volcanic lava.