Digital archaeology uncovers hidden towers of Pompeii, revealing a lost world of Roman opulence. A recent study focuses on the House of Thiasus, a grand residence in Regio IX, where archaeologists uncovered an impressive banquet hall and a unique staircase. This discovery raises a question: What once stood above it? When Mount Vesuvius erupted in CE 79, it buried Pompeii under meters of ash and rock. While the lower floors of many buildings survived, their upper stories collapsed long before excavations began in the eighteenth century. This 'lost Pompeii' has long limited our understanding of daily life and the city's architecture. A team from the Archaeological Park of Pompeii and Humboldt University of Berlin is using digital archaeology to reconstruct missing upper floors. They employ detailed scanning, LiDAR, and close-range photography to create 3D models of the remaining structures. From beam sockets, ceiling remnants, and stairway alignments, they build digital 'twins' that simulate the original appearance of the buildings. One of the most significant discoveries is the House of Thiasus. Digital studies indicate that its grand stone staircase once led to a towering 40-foot-high structure. Researchers identified a space within this tower for a wooden staircase and an upstairs dining room surrounded by windows. The lower portion appears more utilitarian, possibly where food was prepared before being carried upstairs to entertain guests in a luxurious setting. These findings align with Roman descriptions and artworks depicting multi-story villas with crowning towers. Such architectural features were typical of elite residences, offering panoramic views of the landscape, including the Bay of Naples. Literary sources confirm the presence of similar towers in luxury estates, from Pliny the Younger's seaside villa to the famous tower in the Gardens of Maecenas. The new research suggests that some wealthy Pompeii families adopted this trend in their urban houses, creating a more dramatic and vertical skyline than the ruins suggest today. In the case of the House of Thiasus, researchers believe the property may have belonged to a prominent political figure. Digital reconstruction not only reveals missing architecture but also helps preserve fragile remains threatened by weather and environmental change. Building virtual models allows archaeologists to explore ancient spaces without disturbing the site and to visualize buildings as their inhabitants once experienced them. The results, published in the E-Journal of the Excavations of Pompeii, hint at a more architecturally sophisticated Pompeii than the flattened ruins we see today. The team hopes that further 'lost Pompeii' reconstructions will enhance our understanding of urban life before the eruption and reveal how its residents shaped and experienced their vibrant city.
