Archaeologists say the mummy, including hair, bones and ears, is one of the best-preserved skeletons ever found in the ancient city of Pompeii.

According to a press release from Pompeii’s website, the remains found at the Porta Sarno necropolis have been identified as those of Marcus Venerius Secundio, a public slave and custodian of the Temple of Venus, who was later identified released and joined the priests dedicated to the royal cult. . The members of the sect regarded the emperor as gods.

The well-preserved skeleton found in a tomb in Pompeii has been identified as that of Marcus Venerius Secundio.

Archaeologists say the former slave became a priest and introduced Greek in public performances in the ancient Italian city.

A marble slab on the tomb has an inscription commemorating Secundio, who is believed to be over 60 years old, and the inscription is “particularly related to performances at Pompeii performed in Greek, evidence unprecedented direct. found,” an August 17 press release from the states of Pompeii.

Officials say the mausoleum structure dates back to the last decades of life in the city, having been destroyed by the nearby eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

The tomb where the partial human mummy was discovered was east of the ancient urban center of Pompeii. The city was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

While still a priest, Secundio performed (“ludi”) in both Latin and Greek for four days, the tomb inscription says.

Gabriel Zuchtriegel, superintendent of Pompeii Archaeological Park, said the shows were public games organized to entertain the public.

“The fact that performances in the Greek language were held is proof of the lively and open cultural environment that characterized ancient Pompeii,” he said.

The findings suggest that Pompeii was a multilingual city where cultures from the Eastern Mediterranean mingled.

Archaeologists believe that the tomb was decorated with a blue background and paintings of colorful plants covering the walls of the rectangular structure.

This inscription reveals who was buried in the tomb.

During the excavation, archaeologists also found two cinerary urns, one of which was described as “a beautiful glass container” that belonged to Secundio’s wife, who was referred to as Novia Amabilis (“kind wife”).

Secundio’s burial was unusual, archaeologists said, because generally only small children were interred; others were cremated.

“We still need to understand whether the partial mummification of the deceased is due to intentional treatment or not,” said professor Llorenç Alapont, an archaeologist from the University of Valencia. “Analysis of the fabric could provide further information on this.

“Even for those like me, who have specialized in funerary archaeology for some time, the extraordinary wealth of information offered by this tomb — from the inscription to the burials, the osteological [structure/ function of the skeleton] finds and the painted façade — is exceptional,” Alapont said.

The tomb where the well-preserved, partially mummified skeleton was found.

Fabrics and biological matter gathered at the site have been sent to the Applied Research Laboratory at Pompeii, where they will be analyzed and prepared for conservation.

“Pompeii never ceases to amaze, and has confirmed her place in a story of redemption as an international role model” said Dario Franceschini, Italy’s minister of Cultural Heritage and Archives. “It is a place where research and new archaeological excavations are taking place once more, thanks to the many professionals in the field of cultural heritage, who with their work never cease to produce extraordinary results for the world which are a source of pride for Italy.”

The excavation and recovery operations at the Pompeii site were carried out by the University of Valencia, coordinated by Alapont, along with archaeologist Luana Toniolo, restorer Teresa Argento and anthropologist Valeria Amoretti of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.

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Archaeologists say mummified remains, including hair, bones and an ear, are one of the best-preserved skeletons ever found in the ancient city of Pompeii. The remains found at the necropolis of Porta Sarno are identified as those of Marcus Venerius Secundio, a public slave and custodian of the Temple of Venus who later was freed and joined…