The ancient Roman city of Pompeii, southeast of Naples, has been the scene of exciting new discoveries in recent excavations by archaeologists. The city, which was buried under volcanic ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, is known as one of the best preserved archaeological sites in history.
During recent excavations, archaeologists uncovered a room in Pompeii painted in a rare blue color. The walls of this room were decorated with frescoes of female figures representing the four seasons.
The team said the room was used for pagan rituals and the storage of sacred objects because the color blue was only found in places of great importance.
Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano described Pompeii as "a treasure chest still partially undiscovered". The discovery came as part of a large-scale excavation project that uncovered 13,000 rooms in 1,70 houses.
Recent discoveries include blue walls decorated with handmade gold details and 15 jugs, oil lamps and three decorative boxes standing next to the wall. The findings also suggest that the house had undergone renovations before the volcanic eruption.
Pompeii, a vibrant city of about 15,000 people, was suddenly destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The disaster is estimated to have killed 16,000 people in the city and surrounding towns. Pompeii, whose ruins were first uncovered in 1748, is still a rich field of research for archaeologists and historians.
The city is visited by millions of tourists every year and is recognized as an important part of the world cultural heritage.
