Amazing New Frescoes With Mythological Individuals Discovered At Pompeii

Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com - Archaeologists excavating Pompeii, the ancient Roman city buried in an eruption from Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., have discovered a banqueting hall with new amazing frescoes.

Archaeologists say these frescos as some of the best unearthed from the ancient site's ruins. The towering black walls of a grand banquet hall are adorned with depictions of legendary Greek figures.

Paris, the prince of Troy, with Helen of Troy. Credit: Pompeii Archaeology Park

One of the murals portrays an encounter between Helen and Paris, who is the offspring of Priam, the king of Troy. This character is recognized by his alternate name, "Alexandros," as inscribed in Greek. According to Greek mythology, Paris' abduction of Helen from her spouse, Menelaus, a Greek king, led to the Trojan War.

Another fresco portrays a disheartened Cassandra, Priam's daughter, interacting with the god Apollo. According to myth, Apollo offered Cassandra the ability to foresee the future. However, when she refused his advances, he cursed her by decreeing that her prophecies would always be dismissed. Consequently, her forewarning about Troy's downfall was ignored.

Credit: Pompeii Archaeology Park

According to the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, which manages this site, this beautifully decorated room was a sophisticated meeting place for entertainment or discussions during feasts.

The recently unveiled dining room measures approximately 15 meters in length (equivalent to 49 feet) and six meters in width (around 20 feet). The room leads to an open courtyard and a lengthy staircase ascending to the second floor.

“The walls were painted black to prevent the smoke from the oil lamps being seen on the walls,” Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the archaeological park, said in a press release.

Apollo trying to seduce the Trojan priestess Cassandra. Credit: Pompeii Archaeology Park

“People would meet to dine after sunset; the flickering light of the lamps had the effect of making the images appear to move, especially after a few glasses of good Campanian wine,” he continued.

Upon the newly applied plaster of the staircase arches, an individual has utilized charcoal to sketch two sets of gladiators and what appears to be a large, abstract representation of a phallus.

The "Black Room" being excavated Credit: Pompeii Archaeology Park

The ancient city of Pompeii was tragically buried under ash and volcanic glass following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E. Since the 18th century, archeologists have meticulously excavated this city, which serves as a snapshot of time. The archaeological park reveals that Pompeii is home to approximately 1,070 houses comprising over 13,000 rooms in addition to public and sacred spaces. The most recent discovery was made amidst an extensive ongoing excavation project.

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Approximately one-third of the ancient city remains to be excavated from the volcanic debris. The ongoing archaeological project, which is the largest in recent years, further emphasizes Pompeii's status as the most significant source of information on the people and culture of the Roman Empire.

The excavation site has so far unveiled a variety of intriguing discoveries. These include two interconnected houses, a bakery, and a laundry room. Additionally, a living room adorned with more beautiful frescoes has also been uncovered.

Written by Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com Staff Writer