COURTESY OF THE ITALIAN MINISTRY OF CULTURE
New excavations at Pompeii, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE, have revealed stunning frescoes depicting scenes inspired by the Trojan War. The frescoes adorn the black walls of a spectacular dining hall that was part of a wealthy townhouse, or domus.
One scene (right) depicts Paris and Helen, two key figures in the Trojan War. The two figures face each other; Helen is accompanied by an attendant, while at Paris’s feet rests a loyal dog. Next to Paris is a Greek inscription reading “Alexandros,” a name that, according to legend, he earned during his exploits as a shepherd before being recognized as Troy’s lost prince.
Opposite this scene, across the dining hall, is another showing Cassandra, the daughter of King Priam of Troy, and the god Apollo. According to myth, the beautiful Cassandra agreed to marry Apollo in exchange for the gift of foresight. But when the time came to become the god’s bride, she refused, so Apollo cursed her with the gift of true prophecy that would never be believed. Her inability to stop the Trojan War despite foretelling it is one of the story’s tragic themes.
Excavators believe that the walls were painted black to minimize the staining effects of oil lamp smoke. In the lamplight, the dark background also would have contributed to a sense of flickering, lively movement in the frescoes, no doubt providing evocative topics of conversation for the host’s dinner guests.
New excavations at Pompeii, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE, have revealed stunning frescoes depicting scenes inspired by the Trojan War. The frescoes adorn the black walls of a spectacular dining hall that was part of a wealthy townhouse, or domus. One scene (right) depicts Paris and Helen, two key figures in the Trojan War. The two figures face each other; Helen is accompanied by an attendant, while at Paris’s feet rests a loyal dog. Next to Paris is a Greek inscription reading “Alexandros,” a name that, according to legend, he earned during his […]
