The tomb of Marcus Venerius Secundio with mummified human remains discovered at Porta Sarno
Archaeologists have discovered mummified human remains, including hair and bones, within an ancient tomb located in the Porta Sarno necropolis, east of the ancient city of Pompeii. An inscription on a marble plaque on the tomb’s facade commemorates the owner, Marcus Venerius Secundio, and provides extraordinary evidence that Greek-language plays were performed in Pompeii, a fact not previously directly documented.
The discovery was made during an excavation project by the Archaeological Park of Pompeii and the European University of Valencia
According to the Minister of Culture, Dario Franceschini, ‘Pompeii never ceases to amaze and confirms itself as a story of redemption, an international model, a place where research and new archaeological excavations have returned thanks to the many professionals in cultural heritage who, with their work, never cease to give the world extraordinary results that are a source of pride for Italy.
Archaeologists excavating the Porta Sarno necropolis in Pompeii have unearthed the tomb of Marcus Venerius Secundio, a former public slave and custodian of the Temple of Venus who achieved considerable social and economic status. The tomb, dating to the city’s later years, features a painted facade with traces of green plants on a blue background. The remains of Secundio are exceptionally well-preserved and partially mummified due to the hermetically sealed burial chamber (1.6 x 2.4 meters).
The inscription on the tomb reveals that Secundio, an Augustalis, organized Greek and Latin games for four days, representing the first clear evidence of Greek-language performances in Pompeii. In addition to Secundio’s inhumation, two urn cremations were found in the tomb, including one belonging to a woman named Novia Amabilis. The human and organic remains are being analyzed at the Pompeii Laboratory of Applied Research. The Archaeological Park of Pompeii is working to secure the necropolis and explore the possibility of opening it to the public. The excavations are a collaboration between the University of Valencia (led by Professor Llorenç Alapont) and the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
Source: Parco Archeologico di Pompei. “Rinvenuta a Porta Sarno la tomba di Marcus Venerius Secundio con resti umani mummificati.” pompeiisites.org, Parco Archeologico di Pompei, https://pompeiisites.org/comunicati/rinvenuta-a-porta-sarno-la-tomba-di-marcus-venerius-secundio-con-resti-umani-mummificati/
