Pompeii excavations reveal Trojan War frescoes

In 79 A.D., the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted, blanketing the Neapolitan city of Pompeii in volcanic ash and rock. Thousands of Romans were killed, but the debris preserved many structures and remains, such as this banquet hall fresco. It shows the god Apollo with the prophetess Cassandra, who foresaw the Trojan War.

The story of the Trojan War would have been known by ancient Romans: The ancient Greeks invaded the city of Troy after Paris took the beautiful Helen from her husband, the Greek King Menelaus. The Greek gods also took sides during the 10-year conflict. Above, the fresco depicts the figure of Leda, a Greek queen who was raped by the god Zeus in the form of a swan and then gave birth to Helen.

The hall, which measures 15 meters by 6 meters (about 50 by 20 feet), was used for elegant entertaining. Its walls were painted black — a common technique that hid the soot produced by oil lamps which illuminated the space.

According to Gabriel Zuchtriegel, head of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, the frescoes were intended to enliven the atmosphere and stimulate conversation. "People would meet to dine after sunset, and the flickering light of the lamps had the effect of making the images appear animated, especially after a few glasses of good Campanian wine." The above scene depicts the lovers Helen and Paris.

Rediscovered in the 16th century, the destroyed city of Pompeii has long been the site of fascination and excavations. The undertakings that revealed the frescoed banquet hall are part of a recent spurt of archaeological activity funded by EU that aims to halt neglect in the archaeological park. The picture above shows the beautiful mosaic floor in the the newly discovered hall.