A perfectly preserved fresco depicting a Greek myth was discovered in Pompeii. Automatic translate

Archaeologists have discovered an incredibly well-preserved fresco in the ruins of Pompeii, a Roman city destroyed during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 BC. The poster-sized mural, whose colors appear as vibrant as the day it was painted, depicts the story of Phrixus and Helle, siblings from Greek mythology.

The fresco was found in a domus, a residence of the upper class, next to the House of Leda and the Swan, another residence that once housed a fresco depicting Jupiter seducing the Queen of Sparta in animal form. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, says it is possible that the frescoes of Phrixus and Helle were painted by the same artist.

In Greek mythology, Phrixus and Helle ride a ram with golden feathers to escape their evil stepmother Ino. Hella falls from a ram during its journey from Europe to Asia Minor and drowns in the Dardanelles Strait in Turkey, which in ancient times was called the Hellespont. Phrixus survives and arrives in the mythical country of Colchis, where he was sheltered by King Eetes, the son of Helios.

Speaking to the Guardian, Zuchtriegel noted the parallels of this story with the modern migrant crisis. “History repeats itself,” he said, explaining that Phrixus and Hella are “two refugees at sea, brother and sister, forced to flee because their stepmother wants to get rid of them and does it through deception and corruption.”

The fresco joins a long list of finds made at Pompeii in recent years, including ancient kitchen utensils, a servants’ quarters, and a fresco depicting a flatbread resembling a pizza (which could not have been one, since tomatoes did not appear in Europe until after the discovery of America). Recently, a carbonized scroll from the city of Herculaneum, also buried under volcanic ash, was deciphered using artificial intelligence as part of an open source competition called the Vesuvius Challenge. The decipherment of the scrolls, however, has local residents concerned that more excavations may follow to find new artifacts.

These discoveries can be partially attributed to UNESCO’s 2013 proposal to include Pompeii on its list of World Heritage in Danger, which in turn prompted the Italian government to devote more funds and resources to the conservation and excavation of the archaeological site.

The fresco, although well preserved, is not complete. Significant parts of the image are chipped off or obscured by debris. Although the archaeological park has not yet released a detailed restoration plan, Zuchtriegel said he hopes that "Phrixus and Hella" will soon be on public display.