Introduction

Italy’s culture ministry said in a statement that archaeologists have discovered a small bedroom in a Roman villa near Pompeii that was used by slaves.

Excavation and Discovery

The team discovered the camera while excavating the Roman villa Civita Juliana, located about 600 meters from the famous city walls of Pompeii, which were destroyed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 (almost 2,000 years ago).

Insight into Slave Living Conditions

The Italian Ministry of Culture said the room had two beds, only one of which had a mattress - two small wardrobes and ceramic containers with the remains of rats and mice, as well as a number of tools, including an iron pick. dangerous and unsanitary conditions in which the classes lived.” lower society at that time.

Social Hierarchy in Ancient Rome

The discovery also provided insight into the social hierarchy in ancient Rome, with the Ministry of Culture noting that no evidence of locks or shackles was found in the room.

“It seems that control was mainly exercised through the internal organization of slavery, and not through physical barriers and restrictions,” said Gabriel Zuchtriegl, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park.

Recreation of Materials

Archaeologists have been able to recreate the materials that were in the room before it was consumed by the eruption of Vesuvius, as things like fabrics and furniture that were covered in a cloud of volcanic ash decomposed over the years, eventually leaving a void among the debris.

Filling this void with plaster revealed the original shape of the elements in the room, as evidenced by an image released by the Italian Ministry of Culture, which provides a vivid snapshot of life 2,000 years ago.

Room A and Hierarchy within Servants’ Quarters

And the new room, dubbed “Room A,” is not a completely new discovery, as it is similar to the one discovered in November 2021, albeit with different furnishings, indicating a subtle hierarchy within the servants’ quarters.

Importance of Continued Research

Gennaro San Giuliano, Italy’s culture minister, said the growing discoveries at Pompeii highlight the need for continued research in the region.

Source

Source: Business Insider