European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 18, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Etta Thermal Bath Kap thar backs turned to a Tatt on clotted Platter East Ota victim. Opulence erotica by Victor l Simpson associated press a re geologists have discovered new evidence of the opulence of the ancient romans As Well As sheif libertine habits the recent discoveries in Pompeii a bustling City with a Rich lifestyle that was buried when mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 , came to Light alter a Long sought allocation of government Money . Able to undertake limited excavations found a jewelry workshop Lull of gems mosaics with pornographic scenes. In lha iwo centuries since the first excavations of Pompeii much has been Learned about the lifestyle of the ancients their architecture use of Urban planning Butone Chi roof the City about 150 Miles South of Rome still is buried under 19 to 23 fool of volcanic Ash debris among Tho new finds Are mosaics depicting combination sol two. Three or Lour men women engaging in activities such As Oral sex. Exports say the mosaics were found in a combination Bathhouse bordello. That the wealthy merchants visiting sailors had a touch for the erotic already has been documented. Arc apologists have unearthed erotic Art Graffiti considerable evidence hat prostitution flourished in roman limes. Such material is on the must see list Lor Many visitors though the neapolitan custodians often discourage women tourists from viewing it. Bui Baldassare Conticello the archaeological superintendent of Pompeii. Said the latest findings were unique in Pompeii unusual even for erotic scenes of More than two people Are very rare in classical Art he said. The discoveries were made near the main Entrance to the excavations at the Porta Marina in the suburban Baths. The site the Best preserved Bathhouse found in Pompeii 13 just outside lha Walls on the Road la the sea is believed to have been frequented by sailors the pornographic mosaics Are now undergoing restoration Conticello said they should be ready to go on Public View in six or seven months Alt Hii Orlana have Long lamented the deterioration of the wins which have been endangered by vegetation the elements vandalism thefts. They received another blow from the massive Southern italian earthquake in 1980. Officials have said the temblor cracked Walls in at least 100 places. But a9 a result of the earthquake. Conticello said the government finally gave Money that is being used Tor both restoration limited digging. Of the promised 105 billion lire $75 million one third already has been received the superintendent said. E Perls Are excited about the recent finding of Hrco wooden safes filled with gems such As corals aquamarines in a housing Complex at another Side of the City. Annamaria Sato a Young Archeo Ogist working in the dig. Said she believed they had uncovered a jewelry workshop. The shop is seen As further evidence of the opulence of Pompeii one of the wealthiest cites in the roman Empire in be another discovery earlier this year Lor Tow in 51 time the tools of two houses were found perfect by preserved with their tiles in place not collapsed under the weight of volcanic it cons the experts Hope to find Iho f i arms hugs Walls everyday objects or artworks Inlall secret chamber of exotic frescoes the a theological museum of Naples has a collection of frescoes from Pompeii that would Lorce presidential advisor de Moose to Lump them in with other pornography it would t be the first Lime either in 1860, Alexander Dumas. Sr., father of the author of Trio three musketeers catalogued the erotic artwork of Pompeii he called it his pornographic laced a Long tradition of censorship for his troubles the collection when Lisl catalogued was called the chamber of obscene objects then the chamber of reserved objects finally the secret Bui during the life of Pompeii these exotic frescoes were exhibited without veils. They were Ollen of ritual or religious inspiration. Phallic symbols were carved in the Walls even the cobbled streets of the City. They adorn the Walls of not Only the brothels. But also the Homes of the Rich influential patricians the huge numbers of sexual graphics were nol so much profane As they were magical. Pompeii according to italian historians was a phallic culture which grew out of an ancient society based in Fertility that celebrated the creative Powers of nature. In a guide Book on Pompeii tilled Pompeii Itie erotic secrets researchers assert that there is no doubt that sex was expressed with greater Liberty frankness in Pompeii than it is today in spite of the relatively unrestrained behaviour of our some have said that Pompeii got what it deserved because of this Liberal attitude. But the mores of this devastated City were representative of Normal behaviour throughout the roman world at the time. The guide Book liberally illustrated with the most ays opening examples of Pompeii s sexual expression Calls the frescoes. A kind of grammar Book of love an epic poem of erotic gestures a Sample Book of desires an effluvium of fancies handed Down to us from the ancient . The stars stripes Page 15 Rob 1966
