An extraordinary discovery has been made in the southern Italy archaeological site of Pompeii, where a dining space adorned with well-preserved frescoes inspired by the Trojan war has been uncovered amid the ruins. The room spans 15 metres in length and six metres in width, and it was discovered within an old private home on Via di Nola, Pompeii’s longest road in the Regio IX district during excavation work.
Due to its dark painted walls which were likely designed to conceal the lamp soot-generated stains, the room is often referred to as the “black room”. Scholars suggested that it was a sophisticated venue meant for social gatherings. The walls of the room are decorated with depictions of various Greek mythological figures, including Helen of Troy’s first encounter with Paris, the prince of Troy, portrayed in a fresco. Along with the depiction of a dog, there is a Greek inscription “Alexandros”, another name for Prince Paris. The duo’s romantic escape set off the infamous Trojan war in the 12th century BC according to Greek myths.
Another fresco portrays Apollo, the Greek god making romantic advances towards the priestess Cassandra. In an attempt to win her over, he gifted her the ability to predict the future. However, when she rejected his advances, he cursed her by ensuring her prophecies went unheeded. Despite her foresight, she couldn’t stop the tragic outcome of a battle she had foreseen. When Troy was seized, Cassandra was violated and ended up enslaved.
Pompeii’s archaeological park director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, suggested that these depicted mythological figures had a clear purpose of amusing guests and sparking conversation during banquets.
“In truth, they reflect the individual’s relationship with destiny: Cassandra, who can predict the future but remains unheard; Apollo siding with the Trojans against the Greek invaders, yet as a god is unsuccessful in securing victory; Helen and Paris whose politically incorrect romance leads to war, or perhaps it was merely an excuse,” Zuchtriegel explained.
The original statement states: “In the soft glow of lamp light after sundown, people would gather for evening meals. The dancing shadows, enhanced by fine Campanian wine, would make the artwork seem animated.”
The art pieces originate from the period known as the “third style”, or ornate style, and can be traced back to 15 BC and AD 40-50. According to Zuchtriegel, it’s difficult to appraise their quality, but the meticulous attention to details, expressions, and shades is captivating and unique as well as the themes of the pieces themselves.
Additionally, the room features an intricate mosaic floor that comprises over a million minuscule white tiles and leads to a courtyard with a long staircase that ascends to the top floor of the property. Underneath the staircase, a substantial amount of construction materials were discovered. Drawings of two sets of gladiators and what is described by archaeologists as an abstract representation of a phallus were found sketched on the staircase arches in charcoal.
Starting in February of the previous year, the Regio IX district, known for its housing and workshops, has yielded an array of discoveries from the ongoing excavations. There was a house found with a tiny bakery believed to have kept enslaved workers to produce bread. The tragic remains of three victims from the AD 79 Vesuvius eruption were discovered in a room within this bakery. An artistic depiction of a pizza was discovered on a wall inside the house’s corridor. In December, thirteen statuettes illustrating a nativity scene were found standing upright, probably on a shelf within a house hallway, providing testament of pagan rituals in the era before Pompeii’s destruction by Vesuvius.
Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano remarked, “Pompeii is like a never-ending treasure chest. Every excavation uncovers something of beauty and importance, keeping us in a constant state of awe.”
Discovered in the 16th century, Pompeii began archaeological excavations in 1748 and is the second most popular visitation site for archaeology globally, as per The Guardian.