Discovery of Partially Mummified Pompeii Resident Reveals a ‘Rags to Riches’ Tale

The man was roughly 60 years sure-enough when he pall , and he was laid to rest in an elaborate stone tomb alongside fancy urns and other sober goods . Once an enslaved person , the Pompeii house physician found his way to freedom and socioeconomic success , as new uncovered evidence suggests .

archeologic discoveries at Pompeii run to appointment back to the calamitous eructation of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE , but this tomb , investigate by researchers with the Archaeological Park of Pompeii and the European University of Valencia , was construct several decennary before the ancient Roman city was enveloped in ash .

The tomb social structure consists of a stone enclosure , and it was plant at the necropolis of Porta Sarno in Pompeii . Bits of pigment are still visible on the facade , revealing green plants on a blue background .

The skeleton as it was found inside the tomb.

The skeleton as it was found inside the tomb.Image: Archaeological Park of Pompeii

But the genuine prize was uncovered inside : the partially mummify corpse of Marcus Venerius Secundio , a resident of Pompeii who come up through the societal ranks after being freed from slavery . Apress releasedescribes it as “ one of the best preserved frame ever found in the ancient city , ” as the soundbox still shows trace of gray hair , and even a part seeable capitulum . A preliminary analysis suggests Secundio was around 60 days old when he perish .

“ Pompeii never discontinue to amaze , ” declared Dario Franceschini , the Italian minister of civilisation , in the jam release .

An inscription on the grave disclose the occupant ’s identity . The name Marcus Venerius Secundio was twin to a wax tablet archive once maintained by a big Pompeian banker . The archive identifies Secundio as being a formerly enslave person and keeper of the Temple of Venus . He was finally relieve , and , as the presence of his monumental grave suggests , Secundio “ reached a sure societal and economic status , ” according to the military press release .

Team members inspecting the tomb.

Team members inspecting the tomb.Image: Archaeological Park of Pompeii

Secundio ’s burying inscription was written on a marble slab located at the pediment of his grave . Importantly , the lettering identified him as being a member of the Augustales — a group of priests devoted to emperor worship . What ’s more , the inscription say Secundio “ give Greek and Latin ludi for the length of four day . ” Secundio , it would seem , organized or was somehow affect in house performances spoken in Greek .

“ Ludi graeci are to be understood as performance in the Grecian language , ” explained Gabriel Zuchtriegel , director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii . “ It is the first clear evidence of performances at Pompeii in the Greek words , which had previously been hypothesised on the ground of indirect [ evidence ] . ” To which he added : “ That performance in Greek were organize is grounds of the lively and open cultural climate which characterised ancient Pompeii . ”

The room in which Secundio ’s body was discover measure 5.25 feet ( 1.6 meter ) encompassing and 7.87 feet ( 2.4 meters ) long , and it was hermetically sealed , allowing for the “ exceptional body politic of preservation in which the skeleton was plant , ” according to the press release . Discoveries like this are rare , as the ancient romish tendency was to cremate adults ( only children were buried ) . That say , one of two glass urn ground in the chamber was inscribed with the name Novia Amabilis , who is believe to be Secundio ’s second wife . In accession to the two cremation urn , multiple grave goods were convalesce , namely legion fragments of some sort of framework .

The inscription, written on a marble slab, found at the tomb.

The inscription, written on a marble slab, found at the tomb.Image: Archaeological Park of Pompeii

Llorenç Alapont , a professor of anthropology at the University of Valencia , say in the tone ending that the team still needs to reckon out if the partial mumification necrosis was knowing . He ’s hopeful that an psychoanalysis of the fabric detect inside the tomb will provide further info in this regard .

“ From the sources we bang that sure cloth such as asbestos were used in embalming , ” he explained . “ Even for those like me , who have been specialize in funerary archaeology for some clip , the extraordinary wealth of information propose by this grave , from the inscription to the burial , the osteological discovery and the painted façade , is olympian , which confirms the grandness of take over an interdisciplinary approach shot . ”

The cadaverous remains were ship to the Laboratory of Applied Research at the site of Pompeii for further analysis and saving . The grave at the Porta Sarno Necropoli will also be maintain , as this part of Pompeii , known as Regio Little Phoebe , will finally be made useable for public display .

The skull, with patches of gray hair and portions of a left ear still visible.