Restoration work at the Roman Villa of Poppaea near Pompeii has revealed rare frescoes that still retain their vibrant colors despite being buried under the ash of Mount Vesuvius for nearly 2,000 years. Last Thursday, visitors were allowed into the Villa of Poppaea for the first time since the restoration began. This is the magnificent palace of ancient Rome, destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The villa was the home of Poppaea Sabina, the second wife of Emperor Nero, whom some believe he later killed. The villa was under restoration at the time of the volcanic eruption. The director of the archaeological site near Naples, Arianna Spinosa, said: "As we are about to finish the restoration, it is important that we reopen the villa to visitors." She described every excavation step as a surprise, as they expected to find some frescoes, but the surprises that emerged far exceeded expectations, especially the vibrant colors that looked as if they had just been painted. The latest discoveries were found in the oldest part of the building, dating back to the middle of the 1st century BC. Among them are the slender legs of a bird on a yellow frieze (a prominent decorative strip forming a certain geometric pattern on the walls of buildings) and a peacock that is almost complete except for its head. The peacock was found in the main living room with a reflective wall—the most impressive room in the villa. What distinguishes the discovered frescoes, which depict birds, fish, and fruits, is not only their complex details but also their original, untouched colors. The Villa of Poppaea was accidentally discovered at the end of the 16th century during the construction of an aqueduct, and excavations began in the 18th century. In 1974, excavators found a second nearby building known as "Villa B," but it remains closed to the public.
