Pompeii's Hidden Secrets: Love, Art, and Life in Ancient Walls

Pompeii, the city frozen in time by Mount Vesuvius' eruption in AD 79, keeps surprising us. Recently, advanced imaging tech has uncovered nearly 80 new inscriptions on a wall in Pompeii. These aren't just random scribbles. They're love notes, sketches, and even insults from everyday people. The wall in question is part of a long corridor. It connects Pompeii's theaters to the bustling Via Stabiana. This corridor was first discovered over 230 years ago. Yet, with new tech, researchers found hidden messages that were invisible before. The tech used is called Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI). It captures images from many angles. This helps reveal faint scratches that centuries of wear had hidden. Researchers didn't expect to find new stuff here. They thought the wall was already fully documented. But they found around 300 inscriptions, 79 of which were new.The project, called "corridor whispers, " was led by researchers from Sorbonne University in Paris and Quebec University. They worked with Pompeii's authorities. The goal is to create a 3D platform. It will combine different data types to show and annotate the graffiti. Some inscriptions are well-known. Like a hurried goodbye to a lover: "I am in a hurry. Farewell, my Sava, make sure you love me! " Or a slave's devotion to her beloved, asking for Venus' favor. Among the new finds is a sketch of two gladiators fighting. And the start of a love declaration: "Erato loves. . . " Pompeii's over 10, 000 known inscriptions are a treasure trove. They give us a glimpse into the lives of ancient people. Their hopes, fears, and everyday thoughts. This new tech is like opening a new door to the past.