 They were originally discovered in 1958, much later than the rest of the city, though a systematic excavation had to wait until 1985–1987, which gave us valuable new insights into aspects of social and cultural workings of Roman life in Pompeii.Although publicly owned, these baths seem to have been reserved for a private clientele unlike the other public baths.The building is notable for its surviving erotic wall paintings, the only set of such art found in a public Roman bath house.