Archaeologists discover breathtaking murals frozen in time in a modest house in ancient Pompeii

A small house full of beautiful frescoes has been discovered in the old town Pompeii. Although the house is modest in size, researchers say its decorations – including erotic scenes – are similar to those of much larger nearby homes.

The painted house, found during recent excavations in the city’s central district, is also an example of a shift in Roman architectural styles. The small space does not have an atrium, which was common in wealthy Pompeian homes statement of the Pompeii Archaeological Park. Traditionally, large homes had rooms surrounding a central open-air space with a basin for collecting rainwater.

“The atrium was associated with the wealthy Romans who entertained their clients and supporters and as a place to display family heirlooms,” says park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel says London Times“Tom Kington.

Eventually, Roman house design evolved and it became more acceptable to forego the inclusion of an expensive atrium. Instead, elite families displayed their wealth in other ways.

“As Rome entered the second century AD, many freed slaves and merchants of humble origins rose to social status, while the old money slipped away,” Zuchtriegel told the newspaper. Times. “More than an atrium, it was clothing and jewelry that began to show status. Not having an atrium started to become a choice, and we see that trend emerging in Pompeii.”

The newly discovered structure is called the House of Phaedra, named after a well-preserved painting of the mythological Hippolytus and Phaedra on the wall. In Euripides‘ancient Greek tragedy Hippolytus, Phaedrahero’s wife Theseusfalls in love with her stepson Hippolytus. In the fresco Phaedra sits draped in a cloth, while Hippolytus stands in front of her.

Other frescoes show the sensual embrace of one satyr (half human, half goat) and a nymph (a virgin goddess). Another mural probably depicts the goddess Venus with her sweetheart Adonisthe park said. One painted scene, although damaged, seems to illustrate the scene Judgment of Paris.

Inside the house, researchers discovered a small altar containing several ritual objects, including a ceramic holder for burning incense, which still contained materials from its last use two millennia ago. They also found a lamp, parts of a dried fig and an iron knife.

Dal cantiere dei Casti Amanti, a new example of Casa senza Atrio riccamente decorata – Intervista

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE, volcanic ash buried Pompeii and other nearby Roman cities, leaving them frozen in time. Since the rediscovery of Pompeii in the late 16th century, archaeologists have been excavating its preserved ruins. Today, about a third of the site remains not excavated.

The house was found in Pompeii Insula dei Casti Amanti site, a cluster of buildings that opened to the public this year. Last spring, researchers discovered children’s graffiti depicting a gladiator fight in a nearby home. Just a few months ago they found a unique blue-painted shrine, also located in the center of Pompeii. Other excavations in recent years have uncovered a pregnant turtle, an old construction site and a painting of a round flatbread that resembles a pizza.

As Zuchtriegel says in the statement, excavating Pompeii while keeping it open to visitors is crucial to the park’s goals of transparency and education. He adds that observing the work of archaeologists and restorers helps visitors understand the importance of documenting and protecting the remaining traces of Pompeii’s ancient inhabitants.