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A tiny house featuring erotic frescoes is the latest discovery in the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. Experts say the exquisitely decorated abode, called the House of Phaedra after the mythological queen of Athens, sheds light on the changing architectural styles in the first century AD but is also further proof that the residents of Pompeii had an appetite for sensual art.
The vividly coloured wall paintings include one depicting a sexual encounter between a satyr and a nymph on a bed and one of a scantily clad Phaedra and her stepson Hippolytus, whom, according to Greek legend, she accused of rape after he spurned her advances. Another fresco features gods presumed to be Venus and Adonis.
Despite its small size, the dwelling “strikes us for the high level of its wall decorations”, Pompeii archaeological park said in a statement, adding that the frescoes were comparable to those found in more opulent homes.
Unlike other homes in the ancient city, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79, the house was not built around the traditional atrium, a central courtyard with a pool used for collecting rainwater that was typical of Roman architecture from the sixth century BC.
Racy scenes were present in homes across all sections of society and public spaces in Pompeii, and were not looked upon as scandalous or embarrassing.
One of the most striking frescoes unearthed features a huge phallus. The image was found in an ornate house known as the House of the Vettii, which was owned by two men freed from slavery and which was discovered in a largely preserved state during excavations in the late 19th century.
The fresco was found on a wall in the entrance of the home and features Priapus, the god of fertility and abundance, with a large penis balancing on a scale next to a bag filled with money, thought to have symbolised the wealth accumulated by the men. It was not unusual for freed slaves to thrive in Pompeii.
Art depicting homoerotic scenes has also been discovered, including a statue found in the House of the Gold Bracelet, one of Pompeii’s richest homes, representing a young man who would have served his master during banquets, as well as sexually.