Rare centuries-old Roman paintings have been discovered in the ruins of Pompeii.
The frescoes were found in a dining hall in the ruined city, buried in ash after a catastrophic volcanic eruption in AD 79. The room, about 50 feet long and 20 feet wide, opened onto a courtyard with a roofless room and a long staircase that connected to the first floor, according to the Pompeii Archaeological Park.
Archaeologists described the room as spectacular and surrounded by elegant black walls and decor displaying mythological figures inspired by the Trojan War. The space was discovered in Block No. 10 of the ninth section of the site, which was only recently excavated, the museum said in a press release.
“The walls were painted black to prevent smoke from the oil lamps from being visible on the walls,” park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said in the release. “People gathered for dinner after sunset. The flickering light of the lamps had the effect of making the images appear to be moving, especially after a few glasses of good Campanian wine.”
A huge pile of building materials was found under the arches of the staircase, which featured two pairs of gladiators drawn in charcoal.
Paintings depicting Helen of Troy, Cassandra
The paintings depicted Helen of Troy among other Greek characters.
The work presents themes of heroism through the role played by heroes and gods in the Trojan War, as well as themes of destiny and the idea that humans can change their own destiny, the statement added.
Other characters include Cassandra, Priam’s daughter and Hecuba, king and queen of Troy. In Greek mythology, she has the gift of seeing the future but is cursed by the god Apollo to be unable to change future events after rejecting him.
“Mythological couples provided ideas for conversations about the past and life, but seemingly purely romantic in nature,” Zuchtriegel said. “In reality, they refer to the relationship between the individual and destiny: Cassandra who sees the future but no one believes her, Apollo who sides with the Trojans against the Greek invaders, but being a god, he does not can ensure victory.”
Other discoveries revealed are those of two houses linked together in front of living rooms which were being renovated at the time of the eruption.
When was Pompeii rediscovered
Spanish military engineer Roque Joaquín de Alcubierre De Alcubierre (re)discovered Pompeii in 1748. An amphitheater and an inscription bearing the city’s name were among the first excavations.
The city was buried in rubble in AD 79 after the Vesuvius volcano erupted, killing thousands.
