Sealed Tomb From Around Days of Jesus Christ Discovered in Italy

A sealed tomb that dates back millennia has been discovered in Italy in extremely good condition and contains surprisingly well-preserved artwork.

The 2,000-year-old tomb, which is in near perfect condition, was discovered during archaeological surveys ahead of construction works in the municipality of Giugliano in Campania, near Naples.

Inside the tomb, archaeologists found many frescoes covering the walls depicting various scenes from ancient mythology, the Italian Ministry of Culture said in a statement detailing the finds.

One painting represents the three-headed dog, Cerberus—a creature from Greek mythology, described as the hound of Hades, the god of the underworld. In mythology, Cerberus famously guarded the gates to the underworld.

The tomb has therefore been named the "Tomb of Cerberus." The specific scene depicted in the tomb tells the tale of when Hercules came to Hades to capture Cerberus.

Other frescoes show more scenes from Greek mythology, including one featuring ichthyocentaurs— sea creatures that had the upper body of a human, the lower body of a horse, and the tail of a fish.

This painting shows two of the creatures turned towards each other, holding a shield. A cupid-like creature is also in the painting, near the creature's arm.

"The emotion aroused by the privilege of such a discovery is indescribable. The work that keeps the superintendency engaged in its tireless protection actions and the passion shown by archaeologists in the field have finally received worthy recognition today," a statement from the superintendent of archeology, fine arts and landscape said.

"The territory of Giugliano, after years of oblivion, is finally returning significant vestiges of its glorious past, to be preserved and protected, thanks to a common effort," the statement continued.

Burial practices 2,000 years ago were often grand, depending on the person being buried. Nobles and people of importance were usually interred in multi-roomed tombs, adorned with decorations and objects.

There is not yet any indication of who this tomb may have belonged to, but archaeologists will continue to excavate in order to learn more about its history and purpose.

Aspects of Greek mythology depicted in the tomb were widely adopted by the ancient Romans thousands of years ago.

Around 2,000 years ago, when many people worshiped the ancient Greek gods, art and other objects were often inspired by the gods and the surrounding mythology.

Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about this tomb? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

");jQuery(this).remove()}) jQuery('.start-slider').owlCarousel({loop:!1,margin:10,nav:!0,items:1}).on('changed.owl.carousel',function(event){var currentItem=event.item.index;var totalItems=event.item.count;if(currentItem===0){jQuery('.owl-prev').addClass('disabled')}else{jQuery('.owl-prev').removeClass('disabled')} if(currentItem===totalItems-1){jQuery('.owl-next').addClass('disabled')}else{jQuery('.owl-next').removeClass('disabled')}})}})})

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrK6enZtjsLC5jqycmqSVmXq1u8ybZKOdo6rAbq%2FHq6CsrF2ewaK42GZocWtjbINx