Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on December 18, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
New frescoes with stunning details and colors were found in a villa near Pompeii, offering insights into ancient Roman life and architecture.
ROME, Dec 18 (Reuters) - New frescoes with "extraordinary details and colours" and new rooms have been unearthed in a villa on the suburbs of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, the archaeological park said on Thursday.
The discoveries were made at the Villa Poppaea in Oplontis, a large residence dating from the mid-first century B.C. that may have belonged to Poppaea Sabina, the second wife of Emperor Nero, or to her family.
Archaeologists found a near complete peahen fresco, missing its head, and mirroring a previously found peacock fresco, as well as fragments of a theatrical comedy mask, complementing other theatrical tragedy masks from the same hall.
The excavations also revealed the imprint of trees in the villa's garden, left by lava casts, and four rooms, adding to the 99 already excavated, including one thought to have been part of the villa's thermal baths.
The discoveries "offer promising new research prospects for understanding the layout of the villa and studying long-term interactions between human settlers and the natural environment", park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said.
The once-thriving city of Pompeii, near Naples, and its surroundings were destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79, but its remains have survived after being submerged for centuries by a thick blanket of ash and lava.
(Reporting by Claudia Cristoferi and Alvise Armellini, editing by Alex Richardson)
Pompeii is an ancient Roman city located near Naples, Italy, which was buried under volcanic ash and lava after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. It is known for its well-preserved ruins and artifacts.
Frescoes are mural paintings done on wet plaster, allowing the paint to become an integral part of the wall. They were commonly used in ancient Roman and Renaissance art to decorate buildings.
Archaeological excavation is the process of systematically uncovering and studying artifacts, structures, and other physical remains from past human activity, often to understand historical and cultural contexts.
Villa Poppaea is a large Roman villa located in Oplontis, believed to have belonged to Poppaea Sabina, the wife of Emperor Nero. It is significant for its architectural features and artistic frescoes.
Volcanic eruptions can lead to the destruction of cities, as seen in Pompeii. However, they can also preserve artifacts and structures under layers of ash, providing valuable insights into ancient life.
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