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

The man was roughly 60 years outdated when he died, and he was laid to relaxation in an elaborate stone tomb alongside fancy urns and different grave items. Once an enslaved particular person, the Pompeii resident discovered his solution to freedom and socioeconomic success, as newly uncovered proof suggests.

Archaeological discoveries at Pompeii are inclined to date again to the calamitous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, however this tomb, investigated by researchers with the Archaeological Park of Pompeii and the European University of Valencia, was constructed a number of many years earlier than the traditional Roman metropolis was enveloped in ash.

The tomb construction consists of a stone enclosure, and it was discovered on the necropolis of Porta Sarno in Pompeii. Bits of paint are nonetheless seen on the facade, revealing inexperienced vegetation on a blue background.

But the true prize was uncovered inside: the partially mummified stays of Marcus Venerius Secundio, a resident of Pompeii who rose via the social ranks after being free of slavery. A press release describes it as “one of the best preserved skeletons ever found in the ancient city,” because the physique nonetheless exhibits traces of gray hair, and even {a partially} seen ear. A preliminary evaluation suggests Secundio was round 60 years outdated when he died.

“Pompeii never ceases to amaze,” declared Dario Franceschini, the Italian minister of tradition, within the press launch.

An inscription on the tomb revealed the occupant’s id. The title Marcus Venerius Secundio was matched to a wax pill archive as soon as maintained by a outstanding Pompeian banker. The archive identifies Secundio as being a previously enslaved particular person and custodian of the Temple of Venus. He was finally freed, and, because the presence of his monumental tomb suggests, Secundio “reached a certain social and economic status,” in response to the press launch.

Secundio’s burial inscription was written on a marble slab positioned on the pediment of his tomb. Importantly, the inscription recognized him as being a member of the Augustales—a gaggle of monks dedicated to emperor worship. What’s extra, the inscription says Secundio “gave Greek and Latin ludi for the duration of four days.” Secundio, it could appear, organized or was in some way concerned in theater performances spoken in Greek.

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

The room wherein Secundio’s physique was discovered measures 5.25 ft (1.6 meters) large and seven.87 ft (2.4 meters) lengthy, and it was hermetically sealed, permitting for the “exceptional state of preservation in which the skeleton was found,” in response to the press launch. Discoveries like this are uncommon, as the traditional Roman tendency was to cremate adults (solely youngsters have been buried). That mentioned, one in every of two glass urns discovered within the chamber was inscribed with the title Novia Amabilis, who’s believed to be Secundio’s second spouse. In addition to the 2 cremation urns, a number of grave items have been recovered, specifically quite a few fragments of some type of material.

Llorenç Alapont, a professor of anthropology on the University of Valencia, mentioned within the launch that the workforce nonetheless wants to determine if the partial mummification was intentional. He’s hopeful that an evaluation of the material discovered contained in the tomb will present additional data on this regard.

“From the sources we know that certain textiles such as asbestos were used in embalming,” he defined. “Even for those like me, who have been specialised in funerary archaeology for some time, the extraordinary wealth of information offered by this tomb, from the inscription to the burials, the osteological finds and the painted façade, is exceptional, which confirms the importance of adopting an interdisciplinary approach.”

The skeletal stays have been transported to the Laboratory of Applied Research on the web site of Pompeii for additional evaluation and preservation. The tomb on the Porta Sarno Necropoli may also be preserved, as this a part of Pompeii, referred to as Regio V, will finally be made obtainable for public show.

More: New stays discovered at Pompeii present the agony of Mount Vesuvius’ victims.