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Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Discovered Two Life-Size Statues at Pompeii, Covered With Mysterious Symbols
Archaeologists excavating the Porta Sarno necropolis in Pompeii, Italy, discovered life-sized statues of a man and woman as part of a funerary relief. Experts believe the couple depicted were of high status, and the there are symbols included on the woman's statue that lead researchers to believe that she was a priestess of Ceres. The public will be able to watch live-time restoration on the statues starting in mid April. In 79 A.D., the sky above the city of Pompeii, Italy, turned gray. But it wasn't snow that began falling—it was ash. Mount Vesuvius was erupting. For 12 hours, the volcano rained ash and pumice on the city, and soon the eruptions would worsen. Mount Vesuvius began spewing hot gas and lava fragments (part of multiple pyroclastic surges), killing many of the 20,000 citizens living in Pompeii and nearby Heracleum. Today, both the tragedy and the region more broadly are still a major area of study. Archaeologists recently excavated the Porta Sarno necropolis in Pompeii and discovered a funerary relief featuring statues of a life-sized man and woman. The statues, likely a husband and wife, are part of a larger monumental tomb, consisting of a large wall with several niches. The statues' archaic features and carving quality suggest they were likely made during the late Republic Period—a time of immense social inequality, with elites making their power known through funerary monuments. The presence of the funerary relief and other details on the statues lead researchers to believe that the husband and wife were influential in high society. For instance, the man is depicted wearing a toga that reaches his mid shin. Researchers suggest this was to show off his 'calcei patricii,' a type of footwear worn by upper class Romans. The ring on his left hand and intricacy of his eyes and curls were also indicators of high status. Findings from the archaeological dig were published in the E-Journal of the Excavations of Pompeii. Interestingly, some of the woman's accessories suggest she may have been a priestess of Ceres, goddess of fertility, motherly relationships, and agriculture. She is depicted wearing a necklace with a crescent moon in the middle called a lunula. These amulets were typically worn by girls before marriage, but the presence of a lunula on a married woman suggests that she is a priestess, as Ceres was often symbolically connected to the moon. The statue of the woman also showed her holding a laurel asperigillum—a ceremonial tool used to bless spaces. The excavation effort is a joint effort between the University of Valencia and the Pompeii Archaeological Park, one that began in July 2024 and is part of the larger research project Investigating the Archaeology of Death in Pompeii. This is not the first time the Porta Sarno necropolis has been explored, however. The area was also excavated in the 90s for construction of the Circumvesuviana, a railway network in Italy. According to a press release, the 1998 excavations revealed more than 50 cremation monuments marked by stelae and funerary arches, functioning similarly to modern-day headstones. The statues have since been moved to Palestra Grande at the excavation site for restoration. In the future, the statues will be displayed as a part of the larger Being a Woman in Ancient Pompeii exhibition, set to open on April 16. The public will be able to view live-time restoration of the statues as a part of the exhibit. 'This campaign is a precious opportunity to expand research and enhancement activities in the area outside the walls of Pompeii' Gabriel Zuchtriegel—Director of the Park—said in the translated press release. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Rare life-sized statues of toga-clad couple found in Pompeii tomb
Life-sized statues of a man and a woman were discovered in a tomb in Pompeii, researchers said, thousands of years after a deadly volcano wiped out the ancient Roman city. Researchers say the nearly life-size figures shed new light on life and religion in Pompeii, which was destroyed when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. The discovery was made while researchers from the archaeological site and the University of Valencia worked on an excavation focused on the necropolis of Porta Sarno, which was just outside the city, according to a news release. The site served as a burial ground, and was discovered in the 1990s during railway construction. Since 1998, researchers have found evidence of over 50 cremation burials in the necropolis. The current excavation, called "Investigating the Archaeology of Death in Pompeii," has been ongoing since July 2024. The statues were found in the southern half of the tomb, covered in pumice stone, according to a report by the researchers. The pumice stone indicated that this part of the tomb had been buried in earthquakes shortly before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. The figures are a funerary relief, the researchers said. The couple may have been married and appear to have been "well-to-do," according to the researchers. "The delicacy and detail of the sculpture is remarkable," the researchers wrote. "We can appreciate the careful carving of the hands, fingers and nails. We can also see the detailed work on the folds of the clothing and the ornaments: rings, bracelets, necklace, etc." The woman's figure includes carved accessories that may indicate she was a priestess of Ceres, a Roman harvest and fertility goddess. Researchers said that it is likely only women from prominent families held this position. Priestesses wielded political power and had the highest social standing possible for Roman women. Statues of priestesses holding items associated with their positions are very rare in southern Italy, the researchers said. The man is wearing a toga indicating that he is a Roman citizen. Both are depicted wearing rings that may be wedding bands. Other relics, including ointment jars that may have held perfumed oil, a broken mirror and a coin depicting the sea god Neptune were also found in the tomb. These items may have been important in funerary rites, the researchers said. The statues may date back to the late Republican period, which ranged from 133 to 31 B.C., the researchers said. The statues have been transferred to another part of Pompeii for restoration work. They will be featured in an exhibition that focuses on womanhood in ancient Pompeii, which will open on April 16. The restoration will be carried out in front of exhibition visitors, the park said. Other major finds have been unearthed in Pompeii in recent months. In February, paintings depicting Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, were discovered. The images were painted on the walls of a large banquet room. In January, archaeologists excavated a large private bathhouse that included multiple rooms and a plunge pool. Authors of "Autism Out Loud" on motherhood, diagnosis and growth on the spectrum Democratic-backed candidate wins record-breaking Wisconsin Supreme Court seat Deborah Norville on final season at "Inside Edition" after 30 years
CBS News
03-04-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Rare life-sized statues of toga-clad couple found in Pompeii tomb
Life-sized statues of a man and a woman were discovered in a tomb in Pompeii, researchers said, thousands of years after a deadly volcano wiped out the ancient Roman city . Researchers say the nearly life-size figures shed new light on life and religion in Pompeii, which was destroyed when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. The discovery was made while researchers from the archaeological site and the University of Valencia worked on an excavation focused on the necropolis of Porta Sarno, which was just outside the city, according to a news release . The site served as a burial ground, and was discovered in the 1990s during railway construction. Since 1998, researchers have found evidence of over 50 cremation burials in the necropolis. The current excavation, called "Investigating the Archaeology of Death in Pompeii," has been ongoing since July 2024. The statues were found in the southern half of the tomb, covered in pumice stone, according to a report by the researchers . The pumice stone indicated that this part of the tomb had been buried in earthquakes shortly before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. The figures are a funerary relief, the researchers said. The couple may have been married and appear to have been "well-to-do," according to the researchers. "The delicacy and detail of the sculpture is remarkable," the researchers wrote. "We can appreciate the careful carving of the hands, fingers and nails. We can also see the detailed work on the folds of the clothing and the ornaments: rings, bracelets, necklace, etc." The woman's figure includes carved accessories that may indicate she was a priestess of Ceres, a Roman harvest and fertility goddess. Researchers said that it is likely only women from prominent families held this position. Priestesses wielded political power and had the highest social standing possible for Roman women. Statues of priestesses holding items associated with their positions are very rare in southern Italy, the researchers said. The man is wearing a toga indicating that he is a Roman citizen. Both are depicted wearing rings that may be wedding bands. Other relics, including ointment jars that may have held perfumed oil, a broken mirror and a coin depicting the sea god Neptune were also found in the tomb. These items may have been important in funerary rites, the researchers said. The statues may date back to the late Republican period, which ranged from 133 to 31 B.C., the researchers said. The statues have been transferred to another part of Pompeii for restoration work. They will be featured in an exhibition that focuses on womanhood in ancient Pompeii, which will open on April 16. The restoration will be carried out in front of exhibition visitors, the park said. Other major finds have been unearthed in Pompeii in recent months. In February, paintings depicting Dionysus , the Greek god of wine, were discovered. The images were painted on the walls of a large banquet room. In January, archaeologists excavated a large private bathhouse that included multiple rooms and a plunge pool.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Rare, near-life-sized statues discovered in Pompeii tomb
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Two very rare, almost-life-sized statues have been discovered during the excavation of a massive tomb in Pompeii. Archaeologists say the marble funerary statues of a toga-clad man and a woman shed new light on the power held by priestesses in the ancient city, which was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Unearthed during ongoing excavations of the tomb just outside the Porto Sarno entrance gates of the dead city, the statue of the woman is slightly taller than that of the man by her side. She is wearing lavish jewelry including earrings, bracelets and rings, as well as a necklace with a crescent moon pendant like those worn by priestesses of the cult of Ceres – a goddess of fertility, agriculture and motherly relationships – the Pompeii archaeological park said in a statement announcing the discovery. The 'lunula,' or crescent moon pendant, was worn by priestesses to ward off evil forces from birth to marriage. 'The symbol of the crescent moon also had an atavistic and primordial meaning, linked to the fertility of the earth, abundance and rebirth, and influenced by the lunar cycles,' according to the research paper on the discovery, published online. The woman's tunic is covered with a cape and she is holding what appears to be a papyrus roll and laurel leaves – often used for purifying and blessing religious spaces by dispersing the smoke from ceremonial incense throughout the area. The woman's adornments suggest she was more important than the man, according to Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii archaeological park. This, he said, could mean they were not married but that the man may have been either a priest or the woman's son. The city of Pompeii was buried under ash and volcanic glass when Vesuvius erupted, and archaeologists have been unearthing it since the 1700s, in a large, ongoing excavation. The current dig, called the Investigating the Archeology of Death in Pompeii Research Project, began in July 2024 and is led by Spanish archaeologist Llorenç Alapont, in conjunction with the University of Valencia and the archeological park. The area was discovered in 1998 during the construction of a train line from Naples. So far, more than 50 cremation burial sites have been identified. 'This campaign is a precious opportunity to expand research and enhancement activities in the area outside the walls of Pompeii,' Zuchtriegel said in a press statement sent to CNN. Previous discoveries in the same area include mummified remains. They were found in 2021 at the necropolis of Porta Sarno, in a tomb bearing a commemorative inscription dedicated to Marcus Venerius Secundio, a public slave and custodian of the Temple of Venus. 'Thanks to the collaboration with the University of Valencia, to which we also owe the discovery a few years ago of the Tomb of Marco Venerio Secundio in the same area, it was possible to work on a multidisciplinary project that saw the involvement of different professionals in the various phases, including archaeologists, architects, restorers, and anthropologists,' Zuchtriegel said. The sculptures belong to what the archeologists working on the dig classify as a large class of funerary reliefs made between the first century BC and the first century AD, Alapont said. These examples appear to date from the Late Republic era, between 133 and 31 BC, according to the research paper. 'Nevertheless, these types of sculptures are very rare in southern Italy. It is even more unusual to find reliefs of priestesses holding their religious objects,' Alapont said in the statement. 'It is clear that there were priestesses of Ceres in Pompeii, but this statue provides new evidence of the importance of the cult in the city. 'In addition, the cult of Ceres has been linked to the popular classes. However, the ostentation of the female relief may suggest that the status of priestess was still reserved for women belonging to a relatively high social standing.' The statues have been moved to the Palestra Grande, the largest open space in Pompeii, to be restored and will be featured in the exhibition 'Being a Woman in Ancient Pompeii,' which opens in the archaeological park on April 16.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Think Light May Hold the Memory of Ancient Cataclysms
According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, gravitational waves warp spacetime. In the process, they could imprint permanent changes, or 'gravitational memory,' on their surroundings. Researchers now think that gravitational memory could be written on photons all over the cosmic microwave background—the oldest radiation in the universe. Though gravitational memory is thought to be too subtle to be detected even by our most sensitive equipment, upcoming instruments might finally be able to pick up on a signal. If two black holes crashed into each other billions of years ago, even though we weren't around to observe, could we find out? Well, as it turns out, maybe we could. Einstein's theory of general relativity describe how the gravity of massive objects and extreme phenomena—such as black hole mergers and core-collapse supernovae (which sometimes end up as black holes)—causes ripples that permanently warp spacetime and traverse the void at the speed of light. These ripples are known as gravitational waves, and the effects of these waves thought to be permanently imprinted on their surroundings as 'gravitational memory.' Evidence of gravitational memory, however, continues to elude telescopes. Even the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO)—which first detected gravitational waves in 2015—has not been able to pick up a memory signal. Fast-forward a decade, and a team of researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute in Denmark and the University of Valencia in Spain now have an idea of where we could search to finally find these mysterious gravitational memory imprints, which they described in a study uploaded to the preprint server arXiv. Cataclysmic events leave their mark on the cosmic microwave background (CMB)—the remnant of the immense shockwave sent through space by the Big Bang and the oldest detectable radiation in the universe. The researchers behind this new paper think that the CMB is probably embedded with 'memories' of black hole mergers as a result of the gravitational waves that resulted from those mergers leaving behind temperature changes in CMB radiation. 'Photons traveling through space may experience permanent distortions and deflection caused by the gravitational wave memory from one such merger event,' the team said in the paper. '[There is] a resulting change in photon wavelength.' Gravitational waves interacting with particles of light, or photons, can shift their direction, velocity, or angular momentum. As a result, photons affected by those permanent changes are essentially taking gravitational memory with them as they travel. If we were to somehow detect the changes made to the photons, we could analyze these effects and find out what kinds of events caused them. Gravitational memory could reveal such things as distances to merging black holes, masses, and the forces of collisions. It could also illuminate more about how the early universe evolved. In the case of a core-collapse supernova, the death of a massive star that has burned all its energy and collapses in a violent explosion, gravitational memory could give us insight into properties no telescope or spacecraft can observe. Because oscillations of waves from gravitational memory are predicted to have much smaller amplitudes than the gravitational waves they come from—never mind the additional noise from human activity on Earth—they have not yet been detected. Even the most hypersensitive equipment is still not sensitive enough. NASA's upcoming LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) observatory might be our best shot at finding evidence. 'Though hidden below a myriad of other signals,' the researchers wrote, 'the entire merger history of black holes is marked on [the CMB, which is] the oldest image of our universe.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
