Archaeologists excavating the Porta Sarno necropolis in Pompeii have found a relief depicting a pair of statues, a man and a woman, standing side by side. They are thought to have been a married couple.
Pompeii Archaeological ParkThis almost life-size relief is carved from volcanic rock.
In July 2024, archaeologists working on the research project “Exploring the Archaeology of Death in Pompeii” excavated two burial structures in northeastern Pompeii: Porta Nola and Porta Sarno.
Originally discovered in 1998, the Porta Sarno area promised to be an important burial site in the ancient city. Since its discovery, more than 50 burials have been found, usually marked by steles and funerary monuments.
One such burial consisted of a large wall and a funerary monument: a life-size relief sculpture, probably depicting a married couple from the Late Republic.
Under the sculpture, archaeologists found several niches indicating the presence of a large tomb in the ground. Researchers believe that the tomb was severely damaged during earthquakes before the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, causing it to collapse and become partially buried under layers of pumice.
Sourse: www.allthatsinteresting.com
