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Sunday 24 of November 2024

Pompeii dig uncovers Narcissus fresco in ancient atrium


This undated photo provided Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019 by the Parco Archeologico di Pompei (Archeological Park of Pompei) shows the atrium of a house with a fresco portraying the mythological hunter Narcissus, right, in Pompeii, near Naples, Italy. Archaeologists have discovered a fresco in an ancient Pompeii residence that portrays the mythological hunter Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection, in a house where a fresco was found late last year depicting a sensual scene between the Roman god Jupiter disguised as a swan and Leda, a queen of Sparta from Greek mythology. (Parco Archeologico di Pompei via AP),This undated photo provided Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019 by the Parco Archeologico di Pompei (Archeological Park of Pompei) shows the atrium of a house with a fresco portraying the mythological hunter Narcissus, right, in Pompeii, near Naples, Italy. Archaeologists have discovered a fresco in an ancient Pompeii residence that portrays the mythological hunter Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection, in a house where a fresco was found late last year depicting a sensual scene between the Roman god Jupiter disguised as a swan and Leda, a queen of Sparta from Greek mythology. (Parco Archeologico di Pompei via AP)
This undated photo provided Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019 by the Parco Archeologico di Pompei (Archeological Park of Pompei) shows the atrium of a house with a fresco portraying the mythological hunter Narcissus, right, in Pompeii, near Naples, Italy. Archaeologists have discovered a fresco in an ancient Pompeii residence that portrays the mythological hunter Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection, in a house where a fresco was found late last year depicting a sensual scene between the Roman god Jupiter disguised as a swan and Leda, a queen of Sparta from Greek mythology. (Parco Archeologico di Pompei via AP),This undated photo provided Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019 by the Parco Archeologico di Pompei (Archeological Park of Pompei) shows the atrium of a house with a fresco portraying the mythological hunter Narcissus, right, in Pompeii, near Naples, Italy. Archaeologists have discovered a fresco in an ancient Pompeii residence that portrays the mythological hunter Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection, in a house where a fresco was found late last year depicting a sensual scene between the Roman god Jupiter disguised as a swan and Leda, a queen of Sparta from Greek mythology. (Parco Archeologico di Pompei via AP)

MILAN (AP) — Archaeologists have discovered a fresco in an ancient Pompeii residence that portrays the mythological hunter Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection.

The discovery announced Thursday is in the atrium of a house where a fresco was found late last year depicting a sensual scene between the Roman god Jupiter disguised as a swan and Leda, a queen of Sparta from Greek mythology.

Pompeii director Alfonsina Russo said that the “beauty of these rooms” has prompted officials to continue to uncover more treasures so that one day the house can be at least partially opened to the public.

Officials noted archaeologists also found inside the ancient atrium a dozen glass containers, eight terracotta vases and a bronze funnel in a space underneath a staircase.