The largest spa complex, which is 2 thousand years old, was found in Italy (3 photos)
The dwelling belonged to a member of the Pompeii elite, and was used as a stage for the owner to assert his social status, perhaps even to nominate candidates for elections. 
During excavations in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in Italy, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the first century AD. It was built two thousand years ago.
The discovery is thermal baths and a huge pool.
The complex was connected to an elaborate banquet hall, decorated with frescoes depicting characters inspired by the Trojan War. Experts have concluded that the dwelling, believed to have belonged to a member of Pompeii’s elite, was used as a stage for the owner to affirm his social status, perhaps even to nominate candidates for elections.
The spa complex had space for 30 people, who could use three pools: a caldarium (hot), a tepidarium (warm) and a frigidarium (cold). The cold room, which had a courtyard, was particularly impressive, according to experts. There is also a cold chamber that contained a courtyard with a portico. 
The baths are believed to have provided guests with a place to rest after lavish banquets.
"Everything was functional for staging a 'show' with the owner at the center," say scholars.
The banquet hall is known as the black room because of the color of its walls, which was likely intended to mask the soot from burning oil lamps. The walls are decorated with artwork depicting mythical Greek characters, including a depiction of Helen of Troy meeting Paris, the prince of Troy, for the first time. 
The room also opens onto a courtyard with a long staircase leading to the first floor of the room. On the arches of the staircase is a charcoal drawing of two pairs of gladiators and what archaeologists say looks like a "massive stylized phallus."
The city of Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24, 79 AD, or more recently October 24, 79. It is now an open-air museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
