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| Terme Suburbane |
In the ancient Roman city of Pompeii (near Naples) is a place that was closed to the public until now. And this Christmas, the recently restored Suburban Baths will be opened to the public to get their first glimpse of erotic frescoes -- lovely Christmas gift eh! :)
The frescoes are deemed the most evocative and erotic art of ancient Rome.
Pompeii is considered to be one of the most modern ancient towns. It was a place where the rich and the famous chose to work and play. Mainly play. Actors, gladiators, businessmen and so on. And the Pompeiians knew a thing or two about living the good life.
Pompeii, sixth century BC city, boasted of a complex water system, amphitheater, gymnasiums, and baths. Oh the BATHS! The Romans knew how to do Baths. These were public places that held a lot of promise in more ways than one.
The erotic frescoes I am talking about were discovered in the late 1980s in a Suburban Bath or Terme Suburbane. And it is this Terme that has been opened to the public this week.
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| Erotic frescoes |
The Bath is a massive, two-storied structure with hot and cold indoor baths, a heated outdoor pool (archeologists say that this might be the first sauna) and the only documented example in the ancient world of a unisex changing room.
The thermal complex is of the Julio-Claudian age (The Julio-Claudian dynasty refers to the first five Roman Emperors - Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. They ruled the Roman Empire from the time of its formation (1st century BC) till the Nero committed suicide in 68 AD)
It seems the Pompeiians weren't a shy lot when it came to sex and looks like they wanted it to be on the record. The frescoes consist of scenes ranging from group sex to oral sex. And they also contain the world's only example of Sapphic art in the ancient Roman World. For the uninitiated -- Sapphic art refers to lesbian art. The depictions are humorous, bawdy and erotic at the same time.
Pompeii was a bustling city of the good life until 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted and dumped 13-20 ft of volcanic ash on the city. Burying it for good for the next 1500 years. And for all those years, the objects (and the beautiful frescoes) lay beneath the city - well preserved (due to lack of air and moisture). Today, they give us a fascinating glimpse of what life was like all those years ago.
Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination in Italy.
Pic credit TAAN
Source: Archeology News Network
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