A new study published in the Pompeii Archaeological Park's online journal reveals that the ancient Roman city featured multilevel buildings far more impressive than previously understood. Using digital technology, the Pompeii Reset project—a collaboration between the Pompeii Archaeological Park and Humboldt University of Berlin—created 3D reconstructions of structures encased in ash during the 79 CE eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The case study focused on the House of Thiasus in Regio IX, where a 39-foot-tall tower with two levels, including a dining room with city views, was reconstructed. Researchers employed laser scanners, structured-light scanning, and photography to build digital models, then virtually added missing architectural elements like staircases and windows, testing them for structural plausibility.
These findings matter because they challenge the long-held misconception that upper floors in Pompeii were merely rental units or quarters for enslaved people. Instead, the reconstructions demonstrate that the Pompeiian elite possessed significant wealth and power, and that these multilevel buildings may have served as precursors to later Medieval structures in Italian cities like Verona, Siena, and Bologna. The project also aligns with historical descriptions from Pliny the Younger and frescoes found in Pompeii, offering a more nuanced understanding of ancient Roman urban life, space, and society.