archaeologist have discovered an exceptionally conserve and varnish chamber tomb in the municipality of Giugliano in Campania , Italy . The tomb is adorned with multiple frescos , the most notable of which depicts Cerberus – the three - direct guardian of the Underworld – which has given it the name the Tomb of Cerberus .
The tomb was discovered during an archaeologic investigation in the Flegreo Domitiana region , which was part of a bombastic programme for the “ Completion and adaptation of the water provision system ” , astatementreleased by the Italian Ministry of Culture explained .
Previous investigations have let out that this site is obtusely packed with various burial sites , which expose different burial rite ( both inhumation and cremation ) and come from the years of the Roman Republic ( 509 BCE to 27 BCE ) and the Roman Imperial Age ( 31 BCE to 476 CE ) .
The site of the “Tomb of Cerberus”.Image credit : Ministry of Culture
During their work , the archaeologists let on anopus incertum – a case of facing that used Roman concrete or rubblework walls – which they initially believe marked the boundary of the necropolis . However , closer test showed that it was really the front of a “ monumental ” chamber tomb . This tomb was still seal by the original tuff slab used to end the outer space . Behind this slab lay a large chamber that housed the amazing frescos that decorated its wall and ceilings .
The Cerberus fresco shows the titulary three - headed hound from Ancient Greek mythology standing between a nude man , in all probability Heracles ( Hercules to the Romans and Disney ) , and the messenger god , Hermes . The scene probably depicts the last of Heracles ’ twelvelabors , which required him to catch the nether doggo .
In addition to the fresco of Cerberus , the tomb also hold in effigy of other mythological scene , such as ichthyocentaurs ( fish - gymnastic horse - world ) holding a clypeus – a buckler carry by Greek hoplites and Romans . The two figure are being attended by two winged erotes – Roman cherub - like beings that are depicted as babe . These minuscule gods were a collective radical that , like Cupid , was associate with love and sexual intercourse .
The opus incerta – the front of the chamber tomb.Image credit : Ministry of Culture
The tomb ’s inhabitant still remains on the funeral bed they were laid to catch one’s breath on and is surrounded by a plenteous assembling of objective . The chamber also hold back an Lord’s table with vessel for libation .
There are still many questions associated with this awful web site , but the team go along to investigate it and trust to uncover more info about its possessor .
“ The emotion raise by the privilege of such a discovery is indescribable ” , Mariano Nuzzo , Superintendent of Archaeology , Fine Arts and Landscape for the Naples metropolitan surface area said in the command .
“ The territory of Giugliano , after years of oblivion , is finally riposte significant vestiges of its glorious past , to be preserve and protect , thanks to a common effort . "
