Archaeology & History

Archaeologists discover 'little Pompeii'

By T.K. Randall
August 3, 2017

Image: Temple of Apollo in Pompeii
Credit: Mark de Nijs / CC BY-SA 4.0 (adapted) Described by team leader Benjamin Clement as "undoubtedly the most exceptional excavation of a Roman site in 40 or 50 years", the settlement in Vienne, which was abandoned 2,000 years ago following a series of fires, has been unofficially referred to as 'little Pompeii'.

The site, which was discovered during preliminary work for new housing in Sainte-Colombe, covers over 7,000 square meters and features multiple buildings and exquisite, well-preserved mosaics.One building, which has become known as the House of the Bacchanalia, has an intricate floor mosaic featuring satyrs ( half-man, half-goat ) and maenads ( female followers of the god of wine. )

A large public fountain decorated with a statue of Hercules has also been unearthed at the site.


Source: BBC News

Tags: Roman