Frescoes at Villa di Poppaea Sabina in ancient Oplontis, now known as Torre Annunziata, Italy. Here the Oecus (main living room of a Roman house) scene depicts a false door leading to sanctuary dedicated to Apollo and family ancestors, where a sacrificial tripod stands on pedestal column. The villa, which was buried by the eruption … Read more
Floor mosaic of the Battle between Alexander and Darius from Pompeii hangs prominently in the National Museum of Archeology in Naples, Italy. The mosaic masterpiece, which dating from around 100 BC, originally decorated the House of the Faun in Pompeii, one of the most important estates in the ancient Roman city that was covered in … Read more
Inner courtyard of the National Museum of Archeology in Naples, Italy, which houses most of the major finds from the excavations of Herculaneum and Pompeii, including a “Secret Room” that contains all the erotic art discovered at the two sites. No visit to the two Roman ruins is complete without a visit to this museum, … Read more
Large Taberna at Herculaneum is an ancient version of our fast food restaurants, as Romans always took their lunch outside of the home. A variety of dishes were held in large clay pots sunk into counters that faced the street. Customers would order their food and carry it to one of the rooms in the … Read more
Ariadne Abandones painting found during excavations at the Roman ruins in Herculaneum, Italy is one of the few paintings left behind by French Bourbons who rediscovered the city in the mid-18th century. They riddled the area with tunnels, in search of ancient art and other booty that they could loot and carry off to France.
