Archaeologists find well-preserved fresco paintings replete with Trojan War characters in Pompeii

Archaeologists this week found stunning artworks in a new excavation at Pompeii, an ancient Roman city that was buried followingan eruption from Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

Pompeii was once a thriving Roman city, but it got buried deep under ash and pumice after the devastating eruption. Pompeii, a vast archaeological site in southern Italy’s Campania region, has preserved site features excavated ruins of the civilisation. The site is near the coast of the Bay of Naples.

According to the archaeologists, the latest findings are among the finest to be found in the ruins of the ancient site.

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Recently, archaeologists unearthed a banquet room replete with well-preserved frescoes, which depict characters inspired by the Trojan War.

It has been labelled as one of the most stunning discoveries ever made at the site during the ongoing excavation which has lasted nearly two centuries.

The artworks depict Helen of Troy, the god Apollo, and other recognisable figures from mythology on the walls. For the first time, Helen of Troy meets Paris, the prince of Troy.

The fresco also includes a dog and a Greek inscription that reads "Alexandros", the prince’s other name. Legends say that the pair’s elopement led to the Trojan War in the 12th century BC as we have seen in Brad Pitt and Eric Bana starrer movie Troy.

As quoted by The Guardian, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, who is the director of Pompeii’s archaeological park, said, "The mythological couples provided ideas for conversations about the past, and life, only seemingly of a merely romantic nature."

"In reality, they refer to the relationship between the individual and fate: Cassandra who can see the future but no one believes her, Apollo who sides with the Trojans against the Greek invaders, but being a god, cannot ensure victory, Helen and Paris who, despite their politically incorrect love affair, is the cause of the war, or perhaps merely a pretext," he added.

He further added: "People would meet to dine after sunset; the flickering light of the lamps had the effect of making the images appear to move, especially after a few glasses of good Campanian wine."

(Wih inputsfrom agencies)