Ancient Roman Pompeii continues to astonish the scientific community with new discoveries. Recently, in the city that was devastated by the eruption of Vesuvius in the 1st century AD, archaeologists uncovered a fresco depicting ancient Greek mythical heroes: Phrixus on a golden-fleeced ram and his sister Helle, who is drowning. This wall art, which adorned the home of Pompeii’s residents over two thousand years ago, has remarkably survived the test of time. The fresco showcases vibrant colors and exquisite craftsmanship.
Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, commented on the find: “This is a beautiful fresco in excellent condition. The myth of Phrixus and Helle was widely known in Pompeii. But it remains relevant today. It tells the story of two refugees, a brother and sister, who are forced to flee because their stepmother wants to get rid of them, using deceit and corruption to do so. And Helle fell into the water and drowned.”
What the myth is about
Phrixus and Helle were the children of King Athamas. He betrayed their mother, the goddess Nephele, and married another woman, Ino, the daughter of Cadmus. The stepmother, who did not love her husband’s children, decided to eliminate them. She declared them responsible for the famine that she herself had caused. To avoid disaster, King Athamas was to sacrifice Phrixus. Then the goddess Nephele sent a golden-fleeced ram to her children, on which they flew to distant lands. As the fugitives flew over the sea, Helle, in her panic, lost her grip and fell into the water, drowning. This sea became known as the Hellespont, or the Sea of Helle (the modern Dardanelles Strait). Meanwhile, Helle’s brother reached Colchis, where he was raised by the king and sorcerer Aeëtes. He married Phrixus to his daughter, Chalciope. The golden-fleeced ram was then sacrificed to the great Zeus, and rumors of the golden fleece spread far beyond Greece.
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Mr. Zuchtriegel expressed optimism that the homes of Pompeii’s residents will soon be accessible to visitors. They will be able to see, among other things, the fresco featuring Phrixus and Helle.
The ancient Roman city of Pompeii was destroyed in 79 AD due to the eruption of Vesuvius, resulting in the deaths of over 2,000 people. The ruins have become one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world.
The city, which attracts about four million tourists each year, was on the verge of being removed from the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2013 due to inadequate safety levels in the archaeological park, as reported by The Guardian.
Among the surprises uncovered in Pompeii in recent months are 13 statuettes that testify to the pagan ritual traditions of the ancient city, as well as a stunning still-life fresco that resembles pizza and features something akin to a pineapple.