The last house discovered in Pompeii can now be seen from the flying walkway

public archeology

The world capital of archeology surprised us again. In this case, a new house that has emerged from the latest investigations is still in progress in the section of the Chest Lovers’ Insula, located on Via dell’Abbondanza in the central district of the ancient city of Pompeii. The works are part of an ambitious project involving a system of suspended walkways that leave the excavations in the public eye: “You can come and see what normally happens behind the scenes,” Pompeii Archaeology. Details given by the park’s director, Gabriel Zuchtrygel.

a small house

“It’s a small but richly decorated house of Pompeii,” explains the park director. Not only small, but also very strange because this residence, which was under construction at the time of the terrible explosion, has no atrium. Experts are not pointing to a lack of space, which, while limited, would have made its construction possible, but rather that it may have been a change in the architectural habits of the time that would reflect changes in the needs of society at the time. What does not change is the taste of decoration in the Roman domus.

To read more: what to see in pompeii

In one of the two rooms at the back of the house, you can see a very sophisticated fresco that represents the myth of Hippolytus and Phaedra, which is why they have temporarily decided to call it the House of Phaedra and have new Waiting for surprise. Its quality (in the Pompeian IV style) has attracted so much attention that archaeologists have not hesitated to affirm that they are equivalent in quality to those found in the house of the painters at work. In addition to Phaedra, further images from classical mythology have come to light, including an erotic scene between a satyr and a nymph, another scene with the goddess Venus and her lover Adonis, and a damaged scene, Which is speculated to represent a decision. from Paris.

story of an altar

The surprises don’t stop there, but burnt remains of the ritual are still found on a household altar in the Domus. The larario is beautifully decorated with an eagle holding a palm branch in its claws, while below you can see two snakes facing each other with different offerings as symbols of fertility and prosperity. “The excavation – indicates the director of the park – requires the cooperation of the various experts, archaeologists, restorers, archaeologists present here in order to properly understand the conduct of the ritual of the last sacrifice before the eruption.” It is clear that prosperity did not come because of Vesuvius.

How to see the new wonder of Pompeii

With an area of ​​approximately 2,600 square metres, the “Insula of the Chaste Lovers” remains largely unexcavated. The exquisite decoration of the Triclinium (Roman dining room) gave reason for naming this area: the paintings represent three banquets, each set in different seasons of the year, highlighting summer, where you can see the warm atmosphere between two lovers. Might consider kissing. Apart from this triclinium, the insula contains several houses and a bakery. The system of overhead walkways makes it possible to visit these structures, starting every Thursday at 10:30 am (closing at 6:00 pm and last access at 5:30 pm) with a group of up to 20 people. For.