Pompeii: Dig unearths the bodies of master and slave

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of two men who died in the volcanic eruption that destroyed the ancient Roman city of Pompeii nearly 2,000 years ago.

The bodies are believed to be those of a rich man and his slave who were killed while fleeing the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79

The couple, who were lying in close proximity, are believed to have escaped the initial phase of the eruption when the city was covered in volcanic ash and pumice, only to be later killed by an explosion that occurred the next day.

His remains were found during the excavation of the ruins of what was once an elegant villa with a panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea on the outskirts of Pompeii.

The blast “apparently invaded the area from many points, surrounding and burying the victims in ashes,” Pompeii officials said in a statement.

As was done when other remains were discovered at the Pompeii site, archaeologists poured liquid chalk into the cavities left by the decomposing bodies.

The technique, pioneered in the 19th century, gives the image not only of the shape and position of the dying victims, but also makes the remains ‘look like statues’, according to Massimo Osanna, general director of the archaeological park. .

Experts said the youngest man, who was probably between the ages of 18 and 25, had several compressed vertebrae, leading them to believe he was a manual worker or slave.

It is believed that he was wearing a pleated tunic, possibly made of wool.

The old man, aged between 30 and 40, had a stronger bone structure, particularly around the chest area, and was also wearing a robe.

They were found lying in what would have been the villa’s corridor under a layer of gray ash at least two meters (6.5 feet) deep.

Chunks of white paint were found near the old man’s face, likely remnants of a collapsed upper wall, authorities said.

“The victims were probably seeking refuge in the cryptoporticus, in this underground space, where they thought they were better protected,” Osanna said.

Instead, on the morning of October 25, AD 79, a “fiery cloud (of volcanic material) reached Pompeii and … killed anyone it encountered in its path,” he added.

“It is a heat shock death, as evidenced by his clenched hands and feet.

Osanna said the find was “truly exceptional”, while Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said he underscored Pompeii’s importance as a place for study and research.

The men’s bodies are the latest in a series of discoveries that excavations at Pompeii have produced in recent years.

In May 2018, the headless remains of a man trying to flee the eruption were found crushed under a rock.

Mount Vesuvius is still an active volcano. As excavations continue at the site near Naples, tourists are currently excluded from the archaeological park under national measures against the coronavirus.

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