An imposing banquet hall, with elegant black walls, decorated with mythological subjects inspired by the Trojan War: it is one of the rooms recently brought to light during the excavation activities underway in insula 10 of Regio IX of Pompeii and today completely visible in all its majesty. A refined environment in which to spend convivial moments, between banquets and conversations, in which one could breathe the high standard of living demonstrated by the spaciousness of the space, the presence of frescoes and mosaics dating back to the III style, the artistic quality of the paintings and the choice of subjects.
The dominant theme seems to be that of heroism, for the depictions of couples of heroes and divinities of the Trojan War, but also of fate and at the same time the possibility that man has of being able to change his own destiny.
In addition to Helen and Paris, indicated in a Greek inscription between the two figures with his other name 'Alexandros', the figure of Cassandra, daughter of Priam, paired with Apollo appears on the walls of the hall.
The hall measures approximately 15 meters long by 6 meters wide and opens into a courtyard which appears to be an open-air service hallway, with a long staircase leading to the first floor, devoid of decoration.
Under the arches of the staircase an enormous pile of construction material was found set aside. Someone had drawn in charcoal, on the rough plaster of the arches of the great staircase, two pairs of gladiators and what appears to be a stylized phallus.
The excavation activity in insula 10 of Regio IX is part of a broader project to secure the perimeter front between the excavated and non-excavated area, to improve the hydrogeological structure, aimed at ensuring the protection of the vast Pompeian heritage (more than 13 thousand rooms in 1070 housing units, in addition to public and sacred spaces) more effective and sustainable.
"Pompeii is truly a treasure chest that never ceases to surprise us and arouse amazement because, every time we dig, we find something beautiful and significant. We believe in this global unicum that represents Pompeii and for this reason in the Budget Law we have financed new excavations.
We must move forward in the protection of this important site but also in its valorisation": this is how the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, comments on the discovery of the hall.
For the general director of the Museums, Massimo Osanna, "the excavation in Regio IX, designed as part of the Great Pompeii Project and carried out under the direction of Zuchtriegel,it is the demonstration of how a well-done excavation in the Vesuvian city can continue to increase knowledge of one of the most important places that has come down to us from antiquity.
New and unpublished paintings, new data on the enormous construction site that was Pompeii at the time of the eruption, new discoveries on the economy and forms of production. An extraordinary mass of data that is changing the previously codified image of the ancient city. A round of applause to the entire interdisciplinary team who is carrying out the research with passion and professionalism."
"The walls were black to prevent the smoke from the lamps on the walls from being seen. Here we gathered to feast after sunset, the flickering light of the lamps made the images seem to move, especially after a few glasses of good Campania wine - underlines the director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Gabriel Zuchtriegel - The mythical couples were ideas for talk about the past and life, only apparently of a purely amorous nature. In reality, they talk about the relationship between the individual and destiny."