In the final days of 2022, a team of experts from the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the province of Viterbo and Southern Etruria discovered a chamber tomb with exceptional frescoes, hidden beneath the layers of history and time, in Tarquinia, one of the most important Etruscan necropolises. Named the “Franco Adamo” Tomb, […]
Painting
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Exceptional Discovery in Nero’s Domus Aurea in Rome: Pigments and a Massive Ingot of Egyptian Blue
The monumental Domus Aurea, the palatial residence built by Emperor Nero in the heart of Rome, continues to unveil fascinating secrets. Recent archaeological research has brought to light a unique find that provides crucial insights into the techniques and materials used to decorate its lavish rooms. Two jars used during the palace’s construction have been […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
A Large Bath Complex Discovered in Pompeii Within a Domus Decorated with Scenes of Athletes and Paintings of the Trojan War
A new archaeological discovery in Pompeii has unveiled a bath complex inside a private domus, accompanied by a banquet hall. This find stands as a clear example of how Roman architecture not only addressed functional needs but also served as a stage to showcase the social and cultural status of its owners. The discovery took […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
A Colonnaded Hall with Exceptional Frescoes of Hunting and Fishing Still Lifes Found in Pompeii
Pompeii continues to astonish the world with discoveries that shed light on the most fascinating details of life in the Roman world. Recent findings in Regions IX and V stand out not only for their artistic beauty but also for the insight they provide into the customs, economy, and traditions of a society that continues […]
Posted inArt, Medieval Archaeology
The Only Contemporary Portrait of the Last Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos, Discovered in Greece
An exceptional discovery has brought to light the only known contemporary representation of the last emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Constantine XI Palaiologos. This valuable work was uncovered during restoration work at the main church of the former Monastery of the Archangels, located in the region of Aigio, Greece. The finding, dating back to the […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
The prehistoric hand stencils in Maltravieso Cave in Spain are so ancient they might have been created by Neanderthals
An international team of researchers has confirmed through uranium-thorium dating that the iconic hand paintings in Maltravieso Cave, in Cáceres, Spain, could be some of the oldest ever created, possibly by Neanderthals. This discovery establishes this cave as a key site for understanding the origins of human art and its evolution. The Maltravieso Cave, located […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
A Megalography Depicting a Rare Mythological Scene of Achilles and Bronze Statuettes Found in a Roman “Domus” in Reims
The urban organization of Durocortorum, the Gallo-Roman city now known as Reims in France, faithfully adhered to the principles of Roman urbanism. The city was divided into blocks bounded by streets arranged in an orthogonal grid converging at the forum, the nerve center of political and religious life. However, the areas farther from the city’s […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
The Mystery of the Origin of Cinnabar in Ancient Ephesus: Analyses Reveal It Came from the Almadén Mines in Hispania and the Balkans
Ephesus, one of the most iconic cities of antiquity, renowned for its rich commercial and cultural history, has unveiled new secrets thanks to a study that connects Roman mural art with trade routes and pigment production techniques of the era. International researchers have analyzed samples of cinnabar (a bright red mineral used as a pigment) […]
Posted inModern Era
Biagio da Cesena, the Cardinal Caricatured by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel for Criticizing Nudity in His Paintings
There are historical figures who have gone down in history more for some inconsequential anecdote than for the significance they had in the context in which they lived. This is what happened with a priest who lived between the 15th and 16th centuries, was the master of ceremonies for Pope Leo X, organized three conclaves […]
Posted inArchaeology
The Throne Room of a Queen from the Moche Culture Associated with the Moon Goddess and Marine Creatures, Found in Peru
In the most recent excavation season of the Pañamarca Archaeological Landscapes project, a remarkable discovery was made: a previously unknown painted architecture at the site. This project, initiated in 2018, aims to uncover the activities that took place in Pañamarca and its surroundings in ancient times. It is a collaborative effort involving archaeologists, art historians, […]
