Pompeii is an ancient city of Rome. It is now an open-air excavation site and museum in the Campania region of Italy, near Naples. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 destroyed three cities, including Pompeii. Life froze under a five-meter layer of volcanic dust. Furnished houses, streets, people and animals, everything died and at the same time was preserved as a result of the incredible force of the eruption. The first excavations began in 1763. Nowadays, one third of the territory remains unexcavated. (Wikipedia)

The ruins of Pompeii on the background of Vesuvius. Photo: Wikipedia.

The villa where the new discoveries took place is called Civita Juliana and is located in the suburbs of Pompeii. As you know, wine and oil were produced in this agricultural area. They found a villa in the 20th century. At the same time, various parts of the large complex, rooms, and various premises were excavated. Also, in 2021 surviving parts of a Roman chariot and premises where slaves lived were found. New excavations were necessary to preserve the area, which was threatened by a network of tunnels dug by numerous grave robbers. Archaeologists from the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, the Free University of Berlin and the University of Naples L'Orientale joined the work.

"These finds demonstrate the state's commitment and ability to stop the scourge of clandestine excavations and the trade in archaeological goods, and are an important response to the havoc wreaked by grave robbers over the years. Pompeii is the pride of Italy, and we intend to continue to protect and popularize the heritage that is unique in the whole world," says Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano.

Jugs are displayed upside down along the walls. Pompeii Archaeological Park.

A collection of crockery and ceramic jugs displayed upside down against the walls was discovered by archaeologists during recent excavations, like a snapshot of a life frozen in time.

Near the main street that ran through the entire city, a piece of the floor in the form of a mosaic was unearthed. This mosaic floor was once part of a house destroyed after an earthquake, and in the 2nd century AD. a network of baths was built in its place.

Mosaic floor. Pompeii Archaeological Park.

A group of specialists discovered a white mosaic with a geometric pattern, a polychrome emblem, and a black stripe in one of the parts of the network of baths. "The pattern was made of black, white and green mosaics, framed by a double red and black band, which is similar to the opus-sectile floor of the cella of the Temple of Apollo, the tablinum of the House of Faunus, and the exedra found in the House of Triptolemus at Pompeii."

Mosaics. Pompeii Archaeological Park.

Group leader Gabriel Zuchtrigel comments: “Thanks to new research from the Universities of Berlin and Naples, today we can begin to rewrite the history of the quarter, adding the next chapter dedicated to the luxurious domus with exceptional mosaics. and the spacious rooms that occupied the western part of the baths until several decades before the eruption of AD 79.'”