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Rich and Sinful: The Lost Pleasure Palace of Pompeii

2 episodes 98%4KCC

Buried beneath Vesuvius, a Roman luxury villa reveals power, excess, and ruin.

Archaeologists reopen the vast Villa Oplontis to uncover frescoes, statues, gardens, and one of the Roman Empire's largest private pools. As new clues emerge about elite life, enslaved labor, and a possible link to Poppaea Sabina, the story grows richer and more unsettling. Sign up to see how this buried estate reframes Pompeii beyond the familiar ruins.

Episode guide

2 episodes
1
1Unearthing the Past
Pompeii’s Villa Oplontis, one of Rome's largest palaces, was buried for centuries. New excavations reveal its lavish rooms, swimming pool and scandalous artwork. It was a hedonistic playground for the rich—and a prison for the enslaved people who served them.
47 min
2
2The Price of Luxury
Excavations at one of Pompeii's largest homes reveal the lavish lives of the wealthy, the enslaved people who served them and the violent destruction of the villa's final day.
47 min
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