ROME, May 16, Sergey Startsev. Another priceless find was made by Italian archaeologists who continue excavations on the territory of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, which was buried under a layer of volcanic ash from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Well-preserved skeletons of two people who died during this ancient tragedy were discovered in the so-called «House of Chaste Lovers» in the so-called «House of Chaste Lovers», the Italian Ministry of Culture said in a press release on Tuesday. Scientists have established that the cause of their death was an earthquake that occurred simultaneously with the volcanic eruption. The remains of the dead were under the rubble formed as a result of the collapse of the walls of the insula (multi-storey residential building).
“Modern excavation methods help us better understand the hell that completely destroyed Pompeii in two days, killing many of its inhabitants … We can get closer to the last moments of the lives of the dead,” said Gabriel Zuchtrigel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, speaking about the new find.
“During the excavations, one of the archaeologists, pointing to the skeletons of these victims, uttered words that are engraved in my memory and which, perhaps, briefly summarize the history of Pompeii. He said:“ This is us. ”No development of technology can ever force us to forget about the human dimension of the tragedy, moreover, it makes us see it with even greater clarity,» the scientist emphasized.
Indeed, photographs taken by archaeologists at the excavation site in the «House of Chaste Lovers» allow us to imagine all the horror and confusion during the flight of the inhabitants of the ancient city from death, which was carried with them by hot lava flows and clouds of volcanic ash.
The people whose skeletons were discovered by archaeologists lay crouched on their sides in a small outbuilding that was not in use at the time due to renovations. In all likelihood, these were two men over the age of 55 who tried to hide in this room from the raging elements. Studies show that both of them died from numerous wounds received as a result of the collapse of the walls of the building. The raised hand of one of the victims, apparently, is associated with an unsuccessful attempt to protect himself from falling masonry.
Six coins were found next to the skeletons, as well as five small pieces of glass. Among the coins, two silver denarii stand out, one of them dates from the middle of the 2nd century BC, the second, later, belongs to the era of Emperor Vespasian. A number of objects were also found in the room, including an amphora, vases, bowls and jugs, which were stacked against one of the walls.
In the next room was the kitchen, where a pile of powdered lime was found, indicating that repairs were being carried out at the time of the eruption. Several amphorae from Crete, originally used to transport wine, were also found there. Above the kitchen counter, archaeologists found traces of a domestic sanctuary in the form of a fresco.
According to the latest estimates of scientists, at least 15% — 20% of the population of the ancient city, located south of modern Naples, died during the eruption of Vesuvius. Many of these people were victims of an earthquake caused by volcanic activity.
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“The discovery of the remains of two inhabitants of Pompeii shows how much we still have to learn about the terrible eruption of 79, and confirms the advisability of continuing scientific research and excavations. Pompeii is a huge archaeological laboratory that has resumed work in recent years, striking the world with new discoveries,” said Gennaro Sangiuliano, head of the Italian Ministry of Culture, in this regard.
The ancient city of Pompeii, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is a unique open-air museum. The «House of Chaste Lovers» was discovered by archaeologists in the late 1980s. Its name comes from the wall murals depicting men and women at a party enjoying each other's company. Unlike many other frescoes of the ancient city, they are distinguished by relative decorum.