Archaeologists have unearthed a small house in Pompeii, Italy, adorned with erotic frescoes, showcasing the sophisticated manner in which Romans decorated their homes.
This house, located in the central area of the ancient city, is noted by the Archaeological Park of Pompeii for being smaller than typical Roman residences and lacking the open central courtyard, known as an atrium, common in Roman architecture.
Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the park, stated that the excavations are conducted 'under the eyes of the public,' who can access the site via suspended walkways and observe the work of archaeologists.
Within the recently excavated tiny house, researchers discovered exquisite decorations enjoyed by the Romans, including several frescoes depicting mythical scenes and others embellished with motifs of plants and animals on a white background.
Particular attention was drawn to the erotic artworks. One fresco illustrates a sexual act between a satyr and a nymph, while another depicts Hippolytus, the son of the mythical Greek king Theseus, and his stepmother Phaedra, who fell in love with him before taking her own life when he rejected her.
Experts believe one damaged fresco likely represents the Judgment of Paris, while another shows Venus, the goddess of love, and Adonis, her mortal lover.
Such erotic and intricate frescoes have been found in Pompeii previously. A house covered in erotic frescoes opened to the public in January 2023, and another fresco depicting an erotic scene from the Greek myth of 'Leda and the Swan' was discovered in 2018.
Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, burying the city’s buildings and thousands of its inhabitants under layers of ash and pumice. This catastrophic event effectively halted and preserved life in Pompeii, making it one of the world's most significant archaeological sites, allowing researchers to understand the daily lives of Romans during that era.