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AN ancient Pompeii home filled with saucy paintings and unseen art has been uncovered 2,000 years after it was buried under volcanic ash.
This unusually small and extravagantly decorated home, named the House of Phaedra, was discovered by archaeologists on Thursday.
Reuters
Reuters
EPA
ReutersThe ancient Roman city is known for its uniquely preserved homes and people after Mount Vesuvius erupted two millennia ago.
This small home surprised archaeologists due to its opulent frescoes and detailed art across the house.
Despite being covered in ash for 2,000 years, this ancient home has still been adorned with vividly bright paintings.
One of these includes a raunchy scene between satyr and a nymph, and gods, thought to be Venus and Adonis.
The ancient property was named after the mythological queen of Athens, Phaedrea, who features on one of its walls.
Other wall art included beautifully bright depictions of animals and nature.
The home’s standout feature was a grand and richly decorated frescoe.
Archaeologists revealed this find was particularly unique as frescoes and elaborate art had typically been found in larger homes.
This property even included a domestic altar at the entrance which had been painted and adorned with plants, snakes, and sparrows.
Experts explained the home’s size “strikes us for the high level of its wall decorations.”
They noted the quality of this art was comparable to those in much grander homes discovered nearby.
This extraordinary discovery has shed light on the different architectural styles in ancient Pompeii, two millennia after the disaster.
A major difference at this site was it was not built around the traditional Roman atrium, an open space where people could collect rainwater, like most homes were.
This space has not been the only recent and exciting discovery at the ancient site.
What was the Pompeii disaster?
Pompeii has become a city known worldwide since it was perfectly preserved by a shock volcanic eruption 2,000 years ago
The ancient Roman city, located by the city of Naples, Italy, was completely destroyed when Mt Vesuvius erupted on the morning of 24 August, 79 AD.
the volcano shot stone, ash and volcanic gases as high as 21 miles into the sky at tens of thousands of cubic metres every second.
Pompeii quickly became covered in at least six metres of ash and debris.
Around 2,000 people died but this unique eruption perfectly preserved each person, home, and animal for thousands of years to come.
This disaster caught the local population by surprise as much of the ancient population today, now covered in casts, can still be seen sleeping, running, or trying to protect themselves.
The unique preservation has made Pompeii a destination for tourists and academics.
Dozens of scrolls found at Pompeii are set to be deciphered using AI.
Around 1,000 papyrus scrolls were uncovered in a huge villa in the 18th century.
Reuters
ReutersAlthough the scrolls have been preserved, they have also been carbonised – blackened and fossilised.
Researchers have hoped AI could help uncover the secrets behind these scrolls that were sealed shut.
EPA
English (US)