A fascinating discovery was made in Pompeii – frescoes depicting characters from Greek mythology have been preserved among the ruins of the ancient city. These unique paintings have survived for almost two thousand years, despite the eruption of Vesuvius that destroyed the city in 79 CE.
The frescoes depict, among others, Helen of Troy, who is kidnapped by Paris; Apollo, who tries to seduce the king of Troy’s daughter, Cassandra; or Leda with Zeus, who transformed into a swan.
The discovery surprised researchers because the preservation of colours and detail of the scenes are unprecedented compared to other finds of this type. These paintings not only enrich our knowledge of ancient art but also show how vivid Greek myths were in the everyday life of the inhabitants of Pompeii.
