Recent Expedition of the Sunken City of Baiae Reveal New Treasures
2nd Vice President - Daniel Kim
The ancient Roman city of Baiae was once a beautiful city known for its cobbled streets, mosaics, statues, and luxurious villas. Now, the luxurious city is nothing more than sunken ruins. However, the sunken remains of an ancient Roman villa were discovered at the underwater archaeological park of Baiae on the Gulf of Naples, not far from the ancient city of Pompeii. The park was already well known for its submerged relics and treasures, and now the recent survey has revealed even more finds that will help archaeologists uncover more about the beautiful city. The new expedition revealed an 80-meter-long area that was once made up of many rooms that are now missing. Here they discovered an abundance of marble tiled flooring, as well as many marble columns, some still in great shape. The area was also home to a stunning statue, which researchers think is a statue of Apollo.
The sculpture has recently been restored and recovered and soon will go on display at the Archaeological Museum of the Campi Flegrei at the idyllic Aragonese Castle, which overlooks the Gulf of Naples. Baiae is sometimes called "the Las Vegas of the ancient world" as it was once a beautiful town that hosted luxurious villas known to house some of the Roman Empire's most infamous rulers, including Nero and Julius Caesar. The town was just one short stop away from Mount Vesuvius which erupted in 79 CE and infamously destroyed the city of Pompeii and like many other cities around it, Baiae came to its end around the 16th century due to volcanic and seismic activity that submerged the city underwater.
Thanks to underwater archaeology, however, we are still able to remember the glory that was once bestowed upon the town.
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