Posted on 07/17/2025 2:48:28 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Japanese archaeologists found further evidence that a large ancient villa buried on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius in southern Italy may have belonged to the Roman emperor Augustus (reigned 27 b.c.–a.d. 14), The Mainichi reports. The sprawling 40,000-square-foot property, which was buried by the a.d. 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius, is located in an area where Augustus' noble family is known to have had an estate. Archaeologists have been excavating the site at Somma Vesuviana for two decades, and while they have uncovered the remains of a luxurious villa that they suspect belonged to Augustus, there has been no indisputable evidence directly linking it to the emperor. However, a team from the University of Tokyo recently unearthed five large furnaces that were used to heat an enormous bath complex. Lead archaeologist Mariko Muramatsu believes that the structure is so large, it only could have been owned by the wealthy Augustus. "There has never been a case where five large furnaces have been excavated from an Italian site," she said. "It makes sense as an explanation that no one else but the emperor could make such a magnificent feat possible." For more, go to "Letter from Vesuvius: Digging on the Dark Side of the Volcano."
(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...
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The YouTube transcript for the video wasn't in English, otherwise a) I'd have posted it and b) made the video the primary topic. Works well this way though.
Well, talk about being at the wrong place at the wrong time...
Considering Augustus died decades before the eruption, the timing was just fine for him
Fortunately for Emperor Augustus, he died 65 years before the villa was buried.
Fabulous. Wish i could be there.
The Domus Augusti, the home of Augustus, first Emporer of Rome, is on Pallatine Hill. It’s part of the Palatium in Rome.
I’ve been there.
We visited the area in May. Naples, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, Capri.
It was very interesting how Mt. Vesuvius physically dominates the entire region. A very large mountain.
Now, Pliny the Elder on the other hand ...
Sounds great! It’s remarkable how well the excavation, cleanup, and conservation work went. Michael Wood shot part of this documentary wandering through Augustus’ bedroom.
Re: Ovid: The Poet and the Emperor
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3874650/posts?page=25#25
bttt
Well, Augustus had been dead 65 years or so when the cities got buried. ;^)
Whoops.
Nice!
It would be fantastic if they find a library there with preserved scrolls.
I wouldn’t mind something on Capri or Ischia, since I’m dreaming. 😎
I’d imagine that he traveled with his archives at all times.
Frank Costanza’s cousin Carlo had a summer home there. It had two solariums and he had horses named Snoopy and prickly Pete.
Thissa one! Capiche?
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