Inside DOOMED Mt Vesuvius villa destroyed by volcano blast where famed Roman emperor may have died 2,000 years ago
Researchers from the University of Tokyo say there are a number of clues that suggest the posh villa belonged to Augustus, who lived between 63 BC and 14 AD.
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The ruins of the villa, which were buried under a thick layer of volcanic ash, reveal luxuries only afforded to the ultra-wealthy at the time - namely, a private bath
Credit: University of Japan
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Amphora ceramic containers lined along a wall of a structure at the Somma Vesuviana site
Credit: University of Japan
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That number of furnaces has been called an exceptionally rare find by the archaeological community
Credit: University of Tokyo
The 3,650-square-meter villa located at Somma Vesuviana, at the northern foot of Mount Vesuvius, was destroyed on the day of the eruption in 79 AD.
The famous buried city of Pompeii was located on the mountain's southern slope, and was also completely destroyed by the same eruption.
The ruins of the villa, which were buried under a thick layer of volcanic ash, reveal luxuries only afforded to the ultra-wealthy at the time - namely, a private bath.
It boasts five large furnaces, which are presumed to have heated an enormous bath.
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That number of furnaces has been called an exceptionally rare find by the archaeological community.
Carbon found inside the furnace dates back to around the first century, and suggests they went cold not long after.
"There has never been a case where five large furnaces have been excavated from an Italian site," Mariko Muramatsu, professor of Italian studies at the University of Tokyo, said.
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The famous buried city of Pomepii was located on the mountain's southern slope, and was also completely destroyed by the same eruption
Credit: University of Tokyo
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Muramatsu, who began an archaeological survey of the site in 2002, added: "It makes sense as an explanation that no one else but the emperor could make such a magnificent feat possible."
Most read in Science
The researchers noted that Augustus, who held immense power as the founder of the Roman Empire, may have used the building as a guesthouse.
Mystery as body of footless Roman with KNIFE in back found at ancient fort
That many furnaces would have heated a significant amount of water, which may have even been used to entertain influential guests.
"It is almost certain that they were used to heat a large amount of water for a huge bath facility," said Masanori Aoyagi, former commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo.
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The researchers also said the bath was out of use around the same time Augustus died in 14 AD, and what appeared to be a large temple was later constructed on the site.
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The researchers noted that Augustus, who held immense power as the founder of the Roman Empire, may have used the building as a guesthouse
Credit: Getty
Augustus' grave has never been found, but ancient records say he passed away at his villa northeast of Mount Vesuvius.
Accounts from that period also say a
memorial was built there in memory of his accomplishments - but the precise location of that villa has remained a mystery.
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Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, researchers say another clue supporting their theories is the fact that the site is located more than 200 kilometres from Rome.
"Augustus built a guesthouse with a huge bath beyond Roman citizens' scrutiny in a bid to show his greatness to aristocrats and military officers and have them feel the Pax Romana (Roman peace) in the bath," said Aoyagi, who served as the first project head of the research team.
The research team has already begun excavations on the south side of the furnace in hopes of finding the remnants of ancient bath water.
A brief history of the Roman Empire
Here's what you need to know...
The Roman Empire began shortly after the founding of the Roman Republic in the 6th century BC
It reigned for around a thousand years until the fall of the last Western emperor in 476 AD
During this time, the Romans ruled over many countries in Europe and parts of Africa and the Middle East
At its height, 90 million people lived in the Roman Empire
It evolved from a monarchy to a democratic republic to a military dictatorship and then was finally ruled by emperors
One of the most well-known Roman leaders is Julius Caesar, famously assassinated in 44BC
He is largely credited for his military mind and laying the foundations for the Roman Empire
The spread of the Roman Empire into Britain in around 55 BC has had a lasting impact on our lives today
Latin, straight roads, underfloor heating and the spread of Christianity are all attributed to the Romans
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The newly recovered timbers do not match those found in the 1970s - they differ in both size and construction. This has led scientists to consider the possibility that the Antikythera site may actually contain the remains of two separate shipwrecks - not just one. Read more world news Lorenz Baumer of the University of Geneva in Switzerland, who directed this year's expedition, said: 'The measures are different. 'The thickness of the planks found by Cousteau is around 10 centimetres, the ones we have measure around five - that's quite a difference. 'Now we have to find an explanation – is it another part of the ship? It's possible that they've been using thinner planks in upper parts, but that's pure speculation for now. 'Or is it – and for me this could be a possibility – a skiff. Most read in The US Sun 'You see many of those merchant ships had smaller boats with them.' 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Author Jo Marchant, who has written a book about the device, said it was 'probably the most exciting artefact that we have from the ancient world'. 7 A poster for 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' (2023), starring Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones Credit: ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved. 7 A reconstruction of the Antikythera Mechanism on display at the exhibition of Ancient Greek Technology in Athens shows how sophisticated the device was Credit: AFP A fictional version of the device, renamed the Archimedes Dial, drives the plot in Harrison Ford's hit film, where Indiana Jones is shown diving at the Antikythera wreck. Dr Baumer said: 'It's total nonsense, but I was very well entertained I have to say.' But the theory that the ship carrying the mechanism was accompanied by a second ship has historical precedent. A technical drawing of two vessels - one towing the other - was found in Pompeii, inside the House of the Ship Europa, Dr Baumer said. 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This year's expedition also uncovered a fragment of a sculpture depicting a nude male. Some believe the ship was doomed by the weight of the sculptures it carried. Dr Baumer said: 'It sunk very, very quickly because it was, in my opinion , totally overloaded. 'Whenever there's a storm in Antikythera, you're happy that you're not on board a ship, even a modern one. 'It is a very rocky coast, it's impossible to land, and you simply get broken up. There's no chance. 'Even now when the waves are too heavy, the ferry boats do not land on Antikythera – it's too dangerous.' What is the Antikythera Mechanism? The Antikythera Mechanism is a 2,000-year-old Greek device, often called the world's first analogue computer. Discovered in a shipwreck in 1901, the object is thought to have been used to predict astronomical events, like eclipses, moon phases and possibly the movements of planets. It consists of at least 29 gears of various sizes that were made to move simultaneously via a handle. Key parts: Front dial: shows the Sun and Moon moving through the zodiac and tracks dates using a 365-day calendar Back upper dial: tracks the 19-year Metonic cycle to sync solar and lunar calendars Back lower dial: predicts eclipses using the 223-month Saros cycle Lunar mechanism: models the Moon's phases and orbit Gears: the interlocking, bronze gears power everything
