The Luxurious Townhouses Of The Nime’s Roman Elite
These two Roman townhouses proved to be larger and more labyrinthine that expected, based on the findings of preliminary excavations. This, along with their central location, suggests they were occupied by prominent personages who held prestigious positions in the local business or political communities.
Nimes was an especially important city since it had been handpicked to be the regional capital by the Roman Emperor Augustus during his visit to the city in approximately 16 BC. Consequently, those who were responsible for protecting and promoting Roman interests in the city were in a highly privileged position, socially and financially, and would have been expected to live accordingly.