Scene depicted shows the culmination of the twelve labors of Heracles, during which Heracles managed to capture Cerberus
A 2,000-year-old “Tomb of Cerberus” with many very well-preserved frescoes was discovered in Italy. Initial assessments suggest that the tomb dates back to approximately 2,000 years ago, from the Republican and Imperial Roman era.
The chamber tomb was recently discovered during archaeological excavations prior to the modernization of the municipal water system in farmland located in the commune of Giugliano, in Campania, near Naples. The entrance to the tomb was sealed with a special slab, and after entering the chamber, wonderful frescoes decorating its walls appeared. These include a fresco of the ancient three-headed dog Cerberus, leading the tomb to be aptly named “The Tomb of Cerberus.”
Cerberus, also known as the “Hound of Hades”, was famous for guarding the gates of the Underworld to prevent the souls of the dead from escaping. The scene depicted shows the culmination of the twelve labors of Heracles, during which he managed to capture Cerberus. The tomb also contains mythological depictions of ichthyocentaurs, creatures with the upper body of a human, the front legs and lower front half of horses, and fishtails.
- Unearthed 'Tomb of Cerberus' Features Pristine Frescoes from Ancient Roman Era, "Ancient Origins", 11.10.2023
