These sunken ruins could give us insight into the lives of the rich and famous of ancient Rome » TwistedSifter

The ancient Romans were very similar to us in many ways, and one of those similarities is their class structure.

There were many have-nots, a few have-nots, and ultimately the ruling “elite” class kept most of the empire’s spoils for themselves.

The life of the upper class was considered quite decadent and even debauched, and these sunken ruins may give us a first-hand glimpse of what it might have been like.

The ruins are believed to be a pavilion that was once attached to an impressive villa overlooking the Mediterranean.

They now lie underwater off the coast of Campo di Mare in Cerveteri, just a short drive from Rome.

Divers and drones have recently explored the circular structure first hand, which consists of two 50-metre-long chunky walls and a truly beautiful ‘Opus Spicatum’ floor that is remarkably well preserved.

This herringbone masonry pattern was popular at the height of Rome’s prosperity.

The Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of the Province of Viterbo and Southern Etruria worked with CSR Cultural Property Restoration to create a model showing what the site might have looked like intact.

They assume that the house belonged to a wealthy member of the aristocracy because the pavilion was “extremely elegant” and adjoined a stately villa by the sea.

The researchers hope that one day they will find the ruins of the villa itself buried along the coast.

The house was probably located on the Via Aurelia, one of the main roads to Rome.

Cerveteri flourished during the late phase of the Etruscan civilization, which merged with Roman culture in the 3rd century BC. The city is home to the largest ancient necropolis in the Mediterranean, as people were buried here from the 9th to the 1st century BC.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to “thousands of tombs arranged in a city-like layout with streets, small squares and neighborhoods.”

Personally, I think it would be really cool to see the whole thing.

I can easily imagine a group of rich people sitting outside, enjoying the Mediterranean breeze with their good wine.

Sounds like life if you ask me.

If you found this interesting, you might also like to read about the mysterious “pyramids” discovered in Antarctica. What are they?