Marine archaeologists using advanced underwater sonar have identified the foundations of a unique "floating theater" in the submerged Roman resort city of Baiae. The structure appears to have been a semi-buoyant wooden platform supported by massive lead-lined stone piers, designed to host performances on the water for the imperial elite.
Divers have recovered several well-preserved marble statues of sea nymphs that once adorned the theater's perimeter. These finds suggest that the Roman mastery of hydraulic engineering extended beyond aqueducts to create highly specialized, luxury entertainment venues that interacted directly with the marine environment.