Posted on 04/12/2024 8:38:22 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Nearly 2,000 years since it was buried by volcanic rubble, the lost city of Pompeii is yielding even more astonishing discoveries.
Archeologists have uncovered remarkably preserved 'fresco' paintings on a wall at a former private residence along Via di Nola, one of Pompeii's longest streets.
One of the stunning artworks depicts Helen of Troy, a beautiful woman in Greek mythology, meeting Paris, prince of Troy, for the first time...
The frescos have been discovered in the 'black room', an 'imposing' banquet hall with elegant black walls at a former private residence along Via di Nola.
It's being called the black room because it was painted black, likely to mask soot from oil lamps that would have burnt...
Dr Sophie Hay, a British archaeologist who works at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, said the 'high quality' frescos used the black walls as the background for the scene.
'The dining room seems to be vaguely unique in the sense that normally there are figurative panels with a border around them,' she told the Times.
'But the ones in that room are painted directly on to the background.
'So it's like they're doing something new, which is really nice but obviously they never got to enjoy it.'
...Dr Andrew Sillett, a classics lecturer at the University of Oxford, has described the frescos as 'pretty cool' because they were likely done close to the eruption...
A third fresco in the black room, meanwhile, shows Leda, mother of Helen of Troy...
A fourth fresco, which is barely uncovered from the ancient volcanic material, shows a female figure appearing to hold a dish.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
The curse of Cassandra: Everything she prophesied came true. The curse was no one would believe her.
I have been trying to figure out what the breed of dog is.
I am upset at the lack of racial diversity in these frescos. They certainly do not reflect who we are today and should probably be withdrawn from public viewing if not destroyed.
:^) They did use a lot of red trim at least, in their frescoed walls.
https://www.google.com/search?q=bedroom+of+augustus
Yeah, really. Typical white supremacists. /s
Apollo in the buff, he had to have been wealthy, because he was hung like a stud cricket.
Black is totally necessary in art. It sets a contrast.
Certain color combinations will draw you eye and certain others will give you a headache.
Red and blue side by side will because your eye cannot focus on the two opposite ends of the spectrum simultaneously. They will seem to vibrate......................
On a serious note, do you know if these frescos will be left in place or removed to the museums for better curation?
I’ve only gotten to Pompeii once, seven or eight years ago, and of course most of the surviving decorative arts had been removed. There were just a few scattered examples remaining. We got the lecture about the preservation issues involved, but time, technologies, and standards of curation march on. Protection against direct sunlight and airborne pollutants would be issues, but for all I know, there might be technical solutions available now.
It would of course be nice to see as much as possible onsite, but in addition, museums end up putting a lot of their holdings into storage. Since cost is no object when it comes to archaeological sites (/s), I’d be all in favor of preservation in place if it’s technically feasible.
Yikes. I thought mine was small.
I don’t. In the past some have been removed for conservation and then returned to the original spot. Others were moved permanently to museums. Building a new roof was the approach for the House of the Vettei, although the original was over a second storey which is lost.
See Michaelangelo’s David. Also appears to be uncircumcised.
Definitely. I was there in ‘68 and it is the #1 place I would like to visit again. Rome would be #2.
Aren’t these supposed to be Greeks and Italians “Romans” who are rumored to be well endowed. I grew up in a large family, Father 2 6 children, popi to 19. As portrayed in marble and on paintings, they either de-emphasize that part on purpose, or use infants for models.
It looks more like a big cat with odd ears.
Honestly that was my first thought
Perhaps should be cataloged as a large pompean fold.
Unfortunately big cats are bed hogs and must have the exact middle.
“One of the stunning artworks depicts Helen of Troy, a beautiful woman in Greek mythology, meeting Paris, prince of Troy, for the first time”
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