A lavishly decorated ceremonial carriage is only the latest sensational find in the recent excavations of a hitherto unchartered area of the lost city of Pompeii, buried under the tragic volcanic eruption in 79 AD.

Archaeologists enthused over the well-preserved oak wood cart, with the sides painted in red and black and adorned with metal medallions of cupids and erotic love scenes with couples of satyrs and nymphs, which they believe was probably used for wedding processions.

The unique discovery was found at a depth of 6 metres near the spot where the remains of three horses were discovered in December 2018. Two of the animals were already harnessed up as if ready to carry their owners away from the crushing shower of lapilli. Obviously they did not make it in time.

The carriage was found in a villa just outside the city boundaries, on what was once the seafront. The vehicle was protected by the roof of a porch which had collapsed on top of it, shielding it from the worst of the damage.

The current excavation campaign has produced several outstanding finds over the last couple of years, including a box of a sorcerer's charms and magic stones (August 2019), the bodies of two men lying in their death throes (November 2020), a brightly painted “Fast Food” bar (December 2020) and a vitrified human brain at Herculaneum (January 2020).

M. Stenhouse

Info: Tel. +39.081.857511 www.pompeionline.net