Children's drawings of fighting gladiators found by archaeologists in Pompeii
Children watched gladiators fight to the death, newly discovered drawings in Pompeii suggest.
Archaeologists in a Roman city have discovered children's drawings of duels, suggesting that young people were present at these events.
Charcoal drawings were found on a courtyard wall and According to scientists, they could have been made by children aged from five to seven years.
The figures depict a pair of gladiators facing each other, each armed with a shield and sword.
In the background, two “bestiarii”, professional hunters putting on spectacles for the baying crowds of Romans, are spearing two hairy creatures, most likely wild boars.
Pompeii had its own amphitheater, just as Rome had its Colosseum , where gladiator fights and wild animal hunting spectacles were held.
Children's drawings of fighting gladiators were found at the site, which was explored by archaeologists in Pompeii.
To the right of the picture is the head of a bird of prey, possibly an eagle.
< p>In another room, archaeologists came across a drawing of a boxing match in which one fighter appeared to have just delivered a knockout blow to his opponent.
They also found an outline of three small hands outlined in charcoal.< /p>< p>The elegant line drawings survived the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, which buried the Roman city in layers of pumice and ash.
The discovery of the drawings “helps to better understand childhood in antiquity.” Roman times,” said archaeologists.
“Exposure to extreme forms of violence, even against young children aged five to seven, is not just a problem in modern times with the advent of video games and social media. The difference is that in ancient times the blood shed in the arena was real.”
Seeing such brutal scenes must have had an impact on the psychological health of young children living in Pompeii, archaeologists say.
>The drawings are studied by child psychology experts from the Federico II University of Naples.
Gabriel Suchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, said: “In all likelihood, the drawings of gladiators and hunters were based on direct experience and not on pictures.”
“One or more children who once played in the yard , between kitchens, latrines and vegetable gardens, would have seen fights in the amphitheater, touching on an extreme form of violence, which could also include the execution of criminals and slaves. The drawings show us the influence of these images on a child of a tender age.”
He said the stick figures are remarkably similar to drawings of people a child might make today.
Archaeologists also discovered the skeletons of two victims, a man and a woman, who died in the volcanic eruption. . When they died, they sought refuge in a narrow corridor.
They discovered frescoes depicting mythological scenes depicting centaurs, sirens and griffins, as well as the deities Apollo, Aphrodite and Dionysus.
Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italy's culture minister, said: “Pompeii regularly makes new wonderful discoveries.”
Just last month, archaeologists found wall paintings depicting the legend of Helen of Troy.
>In one fresco depicts Paris about to elope with Helen of Troy or perhaps kidnap her, an event that, according to legend, sparked the Trojan War.
Another image shows the god Apollo, virtually naked, but with a blue cloak draped over him. shoulder, he leans on the lyre and tries to seduce Cassandra, the Trojan princess.
Recent Comments