Stunningly preserved fresco of Narcissus discovered in Pompeii

The Guardian UK ^ | 14 Feb 2019 | Lorenzo Tondo in Polermo

[blueplum]

Archaeologists working in a richly decorated house in ancient Pompeii have discovered a stunningly preserved fresco depicting the mythological hunter Narcissus enraptured by his own reflection in a pool of water. The figure of Narcissus, who according to the myth fell in love with his own image to the point that he melted from the fire of passion burning inside him, was a fairly common theme in the first-century Roman city. The discovery, announced on Thursday, is in the atrium of a house where, back in November, excavations brought to light another fresco that portrays an erotic scene from the Greek myth of Leda and the Swan.

“The beauty of these rooms has led us to modify the project and continue the excavation,” said the site’s director, Alfonsina Russo. “In the future this will allow us to open at least part of this domus...

[blueplum]

Pompeii is turning up quite a few surprises, but I mostly like the sound of "Lorenzo Tondo in Polermo'

pix at link

[blueplum]

and, related:

‘Erotic’ fresco of Leda and the Swan unearthed at Pompeii
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3708844/posts

h/t SunkenCiv

[rdl6989]

Ping

[E. Pluribus Unum]

[21twelve]

“..that he melted from the fire of passion burning inside him...”

Ironic that this fresco survived the heat from the volcano and ash. I wonder, is that dog the same one that saw his reflection of himself with a bone in the water? (Aesop’s fables IIRC?)

[freedumb2003]

Should that be obozo’s face?

the ultimate narcissist.

[BenLurkin]

[OftheOhio]

You ain’t right, lol.

[OftheOhio]

I’ve been about to pass out I’ve been laughing so hard.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

Another fresco from Pompeii better suggests the Narcissus story:

https://www.theoi.com/Gallery/F43.1.html

[GnuThere]

Look how long his torso is! I think it’s Michael Phelps.

[blueplum]

thanks. between that fresco and the newly discovered reflective face, we can get a pretty good idea of what Narcissus was presumed to look like during that era.

[blueplum]

thanks, E :)

[OftheOhio]

Absolutely beautiful. And the progressive/socialist/communist want to destroy our own history and monuments, unbelievable.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Smile you’re a dick

[OftheOhio]

As the picture from comment #10 has the same long torso. Was this a trait of those from Pompeii?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks blueplum and rdl6989.

[Trump_the_Evil_Left]

[Salamander]

Huh.

Looks like an Ibizan Hound or other Podenco type dog.

Cool.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

Ovid, who describes Echo and Narcissus in the Metamorphoses, perhaps published in about 8 A.D., describes Narcissus hanging way over the water to admire himself, until he was just about flat in trying to get a better and better look at himself. Neither of these paintings choose that posture in the figures thought to be Narcissus. Artist’s prerogative, or an artist using stock human figure types.

http://ovid.lib.virginia.edu/trans/MetindexLMN.htm#Narcissus

Ovid was inspired by genres of earlier Greek poets. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. The nouveaux riches of Vesuvius loved these stories for their walls.