Roman temple intact under 2,000-year-old volcanic ash
The shrine with its fresh, lifelike frescoes was buried after the eruption, protected by volcanic ash for 2,000 years.
The shrine has crimson walls and frescoes depicting exotic gardens with birds, trees and snakes. The archaeologists said the shrine, called a lararium, was very special. They are excavating the ruins to learn more about the people who used the structure.
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The peacock is painted close to the wall to create the feeling of walking on the ground. Photo: AP. |
In ancient Rome, the lararium was a shrine area at the entrance of wealthy homes where people would make offerings and pray to the gods. Massimo Osanna, director of the Pompeii excavation, called the discovery “a magical and mysterious room that will require long-term study.” Built into the wall of a small house, the room contained paintings of Roman gods who were worshipped in homes.
The animal paintings in the garden of wonders follow a typical Roman style of illustration, with peacocks painted along the walls to give the impression that they are actually walking in the garden. A fresco depicts a man with a dog's head, possibly a Roman version of the Egyptian god Anubis.
Shrines were common in Roman homes, according to Professor Ingrid Rowland, a historian at the University of Notre Dame. “Every house had a shrine, but only the wealthiest could afford to have a shrine inside a special, lavishly decorated room,” Rowland said.
According to Osanna, the shrine is special not only because of the beautiful frescoes on the walls but also because the structure is extremely well preserved. "The paintings scattered throughout the area were preserved by volcanic ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The thick layer of rock and ash that was ejected during the two-day disaster prevented sunlight and water from reaching the artifacts below for nearly two millennia," Osanna said.
