“Ancient Secrets Unveiled: Mysterious Life-Size Statues Discovered Guarding Pompeii’s Entrance!”
Among the many Romans who made a life there was a pair, believed to be a young married couple, whose funerary monument was recently unearthed in the city’s Porta Sarno necropolis.
Though heavily damaged by earthquakes and the 79 C.E. eruption, the monument still features its near-life-size relief of the couple, with intricate details of their clothing, accessories, and physical features still remarkably intact.
The details from the relief have revealed key facts about Roman social and religious life, creating new opportunities to better understand day-to-day life in ancient Pompeii.
Uncovering An Ancient Funerary Relief In Pompeii’s Porta Sarno Necropolis
Pompeii Archaeological ParkThis nearly life-size relief was carved from volcanic stone.
In July 2024, archaeologists working under the “Investigating the Archaeology of Death in Pompeii Research Project” excavated two funerary sites in northeast Pompeii: Porta Nola and Porta Sarno.
Originally excavated in 1998, the Porta Sarno area held promise as a significant burial site in the ancient city. Since its discovery, the site has been found to contain more than 50 burials, often marked with stelae and funerary monuments.
One such burial featured a large wall and a funerary monument: a life-size relief sculpture of a presumed married couple from the Late Republic period.
Under the sculpture, archaeologists found several niches attesting to the presence of a large tomb underground. Researchers believe that the tomb sustained severe damage during the earthquakes before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 C.E., leading to its collapse and partial burial under layers of pumice stone.
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