In the spilled parts of the famous Roman city Pompeii a detailed fresco of a gladiator fight has been found. As the Ministry of Culture in Rome announced on Friday, the mural was discovered in the basement of a building that was located at the intersection of two paved streets and probably a tavern for gladiators and a brothel housed.
The colored fresco realistically depicts two types of gladiators - a Murmillo and a Thraex. The Murmillo carries according to the traditions of the various genera of the gladiators a Roman short sword and a large, curved rectangular shield. The Thraex dropped his shield. He is badly wounded and apparently asks for mercy.
The image is particularly fascinating the realistic representation of the wounds of Thraex, said General Director Massimo Osanna. "We do not know how this fight went out, the loser either died or found favor." According to Osanna, the location of the fresco is close to the gladiatorial barracks.
Inexhaustible source of knowledge
Pompeii is the second most visited archeological site in Italy after the Colosseum in Rome. In 2018, 3.6 million tourists were counted. The city was buried in 79 BC by an eruption of the volcano Vesuvius.
more on the subject
In Pompeii, restorations over the last few years have repeatedly brought fascinating finds to light. At the beginning of October, archaeologists discovered crystals, bones, amethysts and amber in the excavation site. The items could have been the lucky charms of a slave (read more here).
"Until a few years ago, the Pompeii archaeological site around the world was known for its negative image: collapses, strikes and tourist snakes under the sun," said Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini. Today is different. "The discovery of this fresco shows that Pompeii is truly an inexhaustible source of research and knowledge for today's and tomorrow's archaeologists."