The Archaeological Park of Pompeii and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Torre Annunziata announce the discovery of an extraordinary find, emerged intact from the excavation of the suburban villa of Civita Giuliana, beyond the walls to the north of the ancient city of Pompeii.
It is a part of the joint operations launched in 2017 and in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019, which sought to combat illegal activities which had been conducted in the area.
A ceremonial chariot with four wheels, with its iron components, bronze and tin decorations,mineralised wood remains and imprints of organic materials, has been discovered almost intact in the portico facing the stable where,in 2018,the remains of 3 equidae had already been found
This is an exceptional discovery, not only because it adds an additional element to the history of this dwelling and the story of the last moments of those who lived in it, but above all because it represents a unique find in an excellent state of preservation.
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As part of our collaboration with @SerpentineUK, this week we are hosting a special, week-long screening of Rezaire's feature-length film ‘Mamelles Ancestrales’ until 3 March 2021
The video is accompanied by a selection of video stills which will continue to be displayed following the screening period, owing to the archaeological connections between this film and the context of Pompeii Commitment.
A newly commissioned text by critic and curator Oulimata Gueye explores and contextualises aspects of Rezaire’s research interests, such as space exploration, geostrategies and spiritual wisdoms.
Thermopolium of Regio V, one of the snack bars at Pompeii, with an image of a Nereid riding a sea-horse, which had previously been partially excavated in 2019, re-emerges in its entirety, with other decorative still lifes, food residues, animal bones and victims of the eruption.
The commercial structure had only been partially studied in 2019, during the interventions of the Great Pompeii Project aimed at stabilising and consolidating the historic excavation fronts.
Considering the exceptional nature of the decorations,and in order to restore the complete layout of the restaurant, located in the clearing between Vicolo delle Nozze d’Argento and Vicolo dei Balconi,it was decided to broaden the project and complete the excavation of the area
In light of the discovery of the two bodies at the villa at Civita Giuliana, we look at the process involved in excavating, recording & casting them.
Volcanic ash from the eruption compacted & hardened around everything it covered. It’s in this layer of ash that voids are found.
Scraping the surface of the ash reveals a small hole indicating a void is beneath.
The voids are created in the ash as organic material decomposes over time leaving a complete mould in the form of what was once inside: in this case the forms of 2 humans lying in supine positions.
Advances in technology now allow for the exploration and documentation of the cavity before it is cast. Endoscopic analysis permitted the gathering of information and recorded the position of the bones and a 3D scan of the void was made.
What the writer Luigi Settembrini defined as “the pain of death that takes on body and form” once again takes shape in #Pompeii, in the form of men who lost their lives during the eruption, the traces of whose death throes have remained imprinted in the ash for 2000 years.
During excavations at Civita Giuliana, around 700 metres northwest of Pompeii, in the area of the suburban villa where in 2017 the servile part had been discovered along with the stable containing the remains of three harnessed horses, 2 skeletons of individuals have been found
Just as in the first excavation campaign when it was possible to crate plaster casts of the horses, today it has been possible to make casts of the two victims who were found near the cryptoporticus, in the noble part of the villa which the latest investigations have focused on.
Pompeii may be temporarily closed but it is possible to visit the Stabian Baths virtually. The main entrance is on the via dell’Abbondanza and passing through the foyer, where in Roman times you may have had to pay an admission fee, you enter into a large colonnaded courtyard.
Opposite is the entrance to the women’s bath complex. On the left are a swimming pool and a room for changing and cleaning after exercise in the courtyard’s gymnasium that is decorated with a painted stucco relief. Following the portico to the right we enter the men’s baths.
As our eyes adjust to the darkness in the vestibule we can look up at the ceiling and admire its magnificent painted stucco relief. Beyond, we see the apodyterium (changing room) and the niches where clothes were left. The plunge pool of the frigidarium (cold bath) is on the left
With just the façade of this house excavated in 1913, we still only have a tantalising glimpse as to its owner: M. Fabius Ululitremulus. He owned a fullonica (tannery) and the playful and brightly coloured chess board decoration may hint at his sense of fun. #ThrowbackThursday
There is a graffito on the façade and it is a word play on the first line of Aeneid: ‘Fullones ululamque cano, non arma virumque’ (translation: I sing of fullers and an owl, not of arms and a man). The word for owl in Latin is ‘ulula’ so it is a pun on Ululitremulus’ name.
An owl appears in a fresco advertising Ululitremulus’ fullery where they would have treated garments with sulphur. The owl is associated with Goddess Minerva who was the patron of the fullers and in addition owls are apotropaic; warding against the evil eye so bringing good luck.