The inscription on the tombstone proudly proves how far Marcus Venus SecundioOnce a slave in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, came alive. He listed the achievements after liberation in order of importance. The first is his role as guardian of the Temple of Venus, which was built shortly after Pompeii became a Roman colony.
He also joined the ranks of Augustales, a priest college responsible for the form of emperor worship. But perhaps the most telling sign of his final status is that he funded entertainment in Greek and Latin.
Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the head of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, said: “Being a slave is a shame. You are possessed by others.” “So here we see evidence of a shift in social rankings. … He showed that he became a different person, and he did it in life.”
Part of Secundio’s mummified remains, including gray hair, bones and partially visible ears, Recently discovered Among the huge tombs in the prime location of the Porta Sarno cemetery, the cemetery was one of the main entrances to ancient Pompeii.
Secundio was initially identified as a public slave in the archives belonging to Caecilius Iucundus, a wealthy banker living in the city, believed to have died decades ago at the age of 60 Pompeii destroyed Vesuvius eruption In 79 AD. Two urns were also found in the tomb, one named Novia Amabilis, possibly Secundio’s wife, and a coin used to celebrate the Greek Games organized by Emperor Nero.
This amazing discovery gave people a deeper understanding of the prosperity of Pompeii and the lively cultural scene of the city a few years before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
As we all know, freed slaves thrived in Pompeii. One of the most prominent examples is the House of Viti, the city’s gorgeous residences owned by two brothers who got rich through trade. Inside the house is a mural depicting Priaps, the god of fertility, with a large penis next to it, and a bag full of money next to it, which is believed to represent the wealth accumulated by the brothers.
Slaves usually have to pay a fee to be released. “Of course, there were many freed slaves who did not become rich, so they formed the middle and lower classes, becoming merchants, handicraftsmen or ordinary workers,” Zuchtriegel said. “But then other people became very rich, sometimes even richer than their previous owners.”
But what is more noteworthy in Secundio’s case—his remains are said to be the best preserved remains in Pompeii’s history—he was buried rather than cremated, which is the norm for adult Pompeii. In addition, his body was mummified.
Zuchtriegel added: “Only young children are buried, so this tomb is very special. It may be a sign of the importance and wealth he acquired in this city and his degree of integration.” “We also need to analyze the remains. See if these substances may have been used deliberately [to preserve the body]. “
The slaves of this period were fortunate to live under the rule of Emperor Nero. Compared with the Roman senators who sometimes tried to exile them back to slavery, Nero preferred to liberate them. Secundio’s role in Father Augustus may allow him to be more protected by the emperor.
A preliminary analysis of his bones indicated that Secundio had not engaged in heavy physical labor during his lifetime. “But he is still a slave, he works for this city,” Zuchtriegel said.
It is Secundio’s role as guardian of the Temple of Venus that allows him to organize Ludi, which can be any festival from theater performances and music competitions to track and field and gladiator competitions. According to Zuchtriegel, the mention of the Greek Ludi on his tombstone is the first clear evidence of a performance in Pompeii in Greek, and it also reflects the lively and open cultural atmosphere of ancient Pompeii. “We know that many people study, study and speak Greek, but this inscription seems to confirm that there is drama in Greek,” he added.
Next year, archaeologists will conduct further excavations of the Porta Sarno cemetery with the goal of finally opening the area to the public. Most of the human remains found in the ancient city of Pompeii belonged to the victims of Vesuvius.
Last year’s excavations in Regio V, a vast area of the archaeological park, revealed The remains of two men It is believed that a slave and his master died while fleeing the eruption of the volcano.In recent years, animal remains have been discovered, as well as villas, murals and Zepolia, or snack bar. In August 2019, archaeologists discovered a “The Wizard’s Treasure” The relics include buttons made of crystals, glass beads, mirrors and bones.
These discoveries attracted hordes of tourists to the site. Before the coronavirus pandemic, Pompeii was one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world. On Thursday morning, people lined up to enter the park; the number of tourists almost returned to pre-pandemic levels. Zuchtriegel has no doubt that Secundio’s discovery will attract more people. “This story, from a point of view of this city, is almost like an introduction…it brings you into the whole story,” he said.
