A 16m2 Room in the Roman Villa Reveals Rare Insights into Society’s Most Vulnerable in Ancient Times
On November 6, archaeologists at Pompeii announced the discovery of a “slave room” in the Civita Giuliana villa, a Roman estate destroyed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. This disaster buried Pompeii under ash, and those who could not escape the city perished either from collapsing buildings or heat shock.
The slave room is a combination of a bedroom and storage. (Image: Pompeii Archaeological Park/Reuters)
Earlier this year, scientists also found an almost intact Roman chariot near the villa. They believe that the slaves living in this small room were responsible for maintaining and preparing the chariot.
“This new discovery sheds light on the precarious lives of people who rarely appear in historical records, which are often written by the elite. The unique remnants of the lives of the most vulnerable members of ancient society are certainly one of the most fascinating finds of my archaeological career,” said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park.
The 16m2 room serves as a combination of a bedroom and storage. It contains three beds, eight amphorae placed in a corner, a wooden chest holding metal and fabric items likely used for saddling horses, and a chariot axle resting on one of the beds.
The beds are made from crude wooden planks and can be adjusted for the height of the user. The sleeping surfaces are made of rope and covered with blankets. Two of the beds are approximately 1.7m long, while the third is 1.4m long, likely intended for children.
These three slaves might have belonged to one family, according to the Pompeii Archaeological Park. Experts found several personal items under the beds, including amphorae containing personal belongings, ceramic vessels, and what appears to be a chamber pot. The room is illuminated by a small window above. There is no decoration on the walls, but a mark resembling that of a wall lamp is present.
The excavation of the slave room is part of a program initiated in 2017 aimed at combating illegal activities in the area, such as tunneling for artifacts to be sold on the black market.
The Civita Giuliana villa has been the target of systematic looting for many years. Experts have found evidence that some “archaeological heritage” in the slave room has also fallen into the hands of thieves. The damage caused by thieves at the villa is currently estimated at up to $2.3 million.
