In 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying Pompeii and Herculaneum under volcanic debris. Nearly two millennia later, excavations continue to uncover poignant details of the victims’ last moments. Recent work at the “House of Elle and Frisso” in Pompeii has revealed the residents’ desperate attempts to survive the catastrophe, as detailed in the E-Journal of Pompeii’s Excavations.
Human remains found within the House of Elle and Frisso.
The house, named for a mythological fresco within, has yielded significant finds. Archaeologists unearthed the entrance, a central hall with a water basin, a bedroom, a banquet room adorned with frescoes, and a rainwater collection area. Within the bedroom, the remains of at least four individuals, including a child and a nearby amulet, were discovered. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, noted the juxtaposition of artistic beauty and the fragility of life evident in these discoveries.
Desperate Attempts to Survive
A particularly striking find was a bed positioned sideways across the bedroom doorway. This suggests a desperate attempt, likely by a family, to barricade themselves against the influx of lapilli, small volcanic fragments, entering through the open roof. While the bed itself has decomposed, a plaster cast preserves its impression in the solidified ash.
The triclinium, or dining room, featuring the fresco of Elle and Frisso.
Zuchtriegel explained that the house reveals traces of the inhabitants’ struggle for survival, ultimately overtaken by the pyroclastic flow, a devastating surge of hot ash that filled every room.
Everyday Life and Ongoing Renovations
The excavation also unearthed bronze artifacts, including a ladle, jug, shell-shaped cup, and amphorae, some of which contained garum, a fermented fish sauce popular in ancient Rome. Evidence of building materials and unfinished decorations suggests the house was undergoing renovations at the time of the eruption. Like many today, the inhabitants chose to remain in their home during the construction.
The Myth of Elle and Frisso
The fresco depicting Elle and Frisso, also known as Helle and Phrixus, illustrates a Greek myth. The siblings’ stepmother plotted their sacrifice, but their mother sent a golden-fleeced ram to rescue them. Elle fell from the ram into the sea, which was subsequently named Hellespont (the Dardanelles) in her memory. The fresco captures the moment of her fall, where, depending on the version of the myth, she either drowned or was transformed into a sea goddess by Poseidon.
Close-up of the fresco depicting the myth of Elle and Frisso.
A Tragic Juxtaposition
The homeowner who commissioned the fresco could never have foreseen that this mythical tragedy would become a silent witness to one of history’s most devastating natural disasters. The ongoing archaeological work at Pompeii continues to reveal the human stories behind the eruption of Vesuvius, offering a glimpse into everyday life and the final moments of those caught in the catastrophe.
