Banquet Room with Preserved Frescoes Discovered in Pompeii
Italy
Thursday, April 11, 2024 17.10 CEST
A banquet room adorned with well-preserved frescoes depicting characters inspired by the Trojan War has been unearthed at the archaeological site of Pompeii in southern Italy. This extraordinary discovery has been described as one of the most striking at the site. The 15-meter-long and six-meter-wide room, known as the “black room” due to the color of its walls designed to mask the soot from burning oil lamps, served as an exquisite setting for entertainment during convivial moments.
Mythological Greek Characters
The exquisite frescoes within the “black room” of Pompeii offer a glimpse into the world of Greek mythology, featuring characters such as Helen of Troy and Paris, prince of Troy. The portrayal captures the fateful moment these two legendary figures met for the first time, an encounter that triggered the Trojan War in the 12th century BC. The remarkable frescoes also depict the Greek god Apollo attempting to woo the priestess Cassandra. Apollo bestowed Cassandra with the gift of prophecy, yet when she rejected him, Apollo cursed her so that her predictions were never believed. This curse prevented her from averting the tragic events she had foreseen. Cassandra would go on to become enslaved after enduring the horrors of the capture of Troy.
According to Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the director of Pompeii’s archaeological park, these mythological couples served to entertain and ignite conversations about the past and the relationship between individuals and fate. This conversation starter was further enhanced by the flickering light of oil lamps that created the illusion of movement, especially after a few glasses of good Campanian wine, as Zuchtriegel explains.
Magnificent Artistry and Architectural Features
The frescoes within the “black room” are a testament to the craftsmanship and attention to detail of the ancient artists. Dating back to the period between 15 BC and AD 40-50, these third style frescoes are elaborate and exhibit a high degree of care in their execution.
Besides the stunning frescoes, the room also boasts a sophisticated mosaic floor made up of over a million tiny white tiles. The room opens onto a courtyard, featuring a long staircase that leads up to the building’s first floor. An interesting find on the staircase’s arches is a charcoal drawing depicting two pairs of gladiators, as well as an enormous stylized phallus, as indicated by the archaeologists.
Continuing Discoveries in Pompeii
The excavations in Regio IX, the district of Pompeii known for housing residential complexes and workshops, have been ongoing since February the previous year. Throughout the excavations, numerous fascinating discoveries have been made, including a cramped bakery believed to have imprisoned and exploited enslaved individuals for bread production. The bakery also contained the remains of three victims of the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius, as well as a still-life fresco resembling a pizza found in the home’s hallway. In addition, 13 Nativity-style statuettes were found in an upright position, shedding light on the presence of pagan rituals in Pompeii before its destruction.
Pompeii, a treasury of ancient wonders, never fails to astonish us with its ongoing discoveries. Situated in southern Italy, the ruins of Pompeii were first discovered in the 16th century, leading to extensive excavations that began in 1748. Today, Pompeii stands as the second most-visited archaeological site in the world.
