Roman pool

CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman got a special behind-the-scenes tour that included a visit to the top of the steps leading to the diving platform over the Roman Pool, a second swimming facility that contains 205,000 gallons of water.

A tiled indoor pool that is accompanied by statues of eight Roman gods, goddesses, and heroes, its likely inspiration was an ancient Roman bath such as the Baths of Caracalla. According to the Hearst Castle Web site, "The mosaic tiled patterns were inspired by mosaics found in the 5th Century Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna, Italy. They are also representative of traditional marine monster themes that can be found in ancient Roman baths. The statues are rough copies of ancient Greek and Roman statues. One such copy represents the 'Apoxyomenos.'"