Nero's Sunken City

A 2017 PBS History Documentary hosted by Jay O. Sanders, as part of Secrets of the Dead series.

Baiae was a favorite vacation spot for ancient Rome's elite including emperors like Nero. Then one day, this coastal town sank into the sea. But unlike Pompeii, Baiae sits under water, in the Bay of Naples. Nearly 2,000 years ago, the city was an escape for Rome's rich and powerful elite, a place where they were free of the social restrictions of Roman society.

Now, a team of archaeologists is mapping the underwater ruins and piecing together what life was like in this playground for the rich. There were vast villas, elaborate spas, and raucous parties on barges floating in the bay. No expense was spared to create a wonderland. Baiae was also the site of some of the most treacherous political dealings of ancient Rome with Emperor Nero and his enemies hatching deadly plots against each other. And then, the city sank into the ocean, to be forgotten in the annals of history until now. What made Baiae such a special place? And what happened to it?