--- title: Fresco of Narcissus Discovered Among the Ruins of Pompeii description: Archeologists have discovered a well-preserved fresco depicting the Greek mythological figure of Narcissus in Pompeii canonical: https://time.com/5530301/pompeii-fresco-narcissus-unesco/ author: Casey Quackenbush article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2019-02-15T07:13:37.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-23T22:46:49.755Z article:section: Science og:title: Fresco of Narcissus Discovered Among the Ruins of Pompeii og:description: The exquisite artwork was relatively well-preserved og:url: https://time.com/5530301/pompeii-fresco-narcissus-unesco/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3926f15894842084/69894534b21a9c56dd5001a3/h_54984149.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2560 og:image:height: 1440 og:image:alt: Narcissus fresco uncovered at Pompeii og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Fresco of Narcissus Discovered Among the Ruins of Pompeii twitter:description: The exquisite artwork was relatively well-preserved twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3926f15894842084/69894534b21a9c56dd5001a3/h_54984149.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # A Fresco of Narcissus Has Been Discovered Among the Ruins of Pompeii > Sponsored content. 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It reaches 40,000 subscribers with a 34.2% open rate and a 2.1% click rate as of August 2026. #### Where can I follow the energy transition as a business story? Future Proof covers climate and energy as an economic and business story rather than only an environmental one. It publishes every Friday and is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who writes Future Proof? Justin Worland, a senior correspondent at TIME and an award-winning climate journalist, writes Future Proof. #### Is Future Proof free? Yes. Future Proof is free at time.com/newsletters. by [Casey Quackenbush](https://time.com/author/casey-quackenbush/) ## Casey Quackenbush Feb 15, 2019 7:13 AM UTC  An undated handout photo made available by the press office of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii on Feb. 14, 2019. An undated handout photo made available by the press office of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii on Feb. 14, 2019. Pompeii Press Office/Handout/EPA-EFE by [Casey Quackenbush](https://time.com/author/casey-quackenbush/) ## Casey Quackenbush Feb 15, 2019 7:13 AM UTC Archeologists have made another [major artistic discovery](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/14/stunningly-preserved-fresco-of-narcissus-discovered-in-pompeii) amid the ruins of ancient Pompeii, finding a well-preserved fresco depicting the Greek mythological figure of Narcissus. The _Guardian_ reports that the fresco was discovered in the atrium of a house where an earlier excavation yielded another fresco painting portraying the eroticized Greek myth of Leda and the Swan. Narcissus, who according to the myth was so mesmerized by his own beauty that he fell in love with his reflection and died from desire burning inside him, was reportedly a popular subject of art in the first-century Roman city. “The beauty of these rooms has led us to modify the project and continue the excavation,” said the site’s director, Alfonsina Russo. “In the future this will allow us to open at least part of this _domus_ to the public,” Russo said, according to the _Guardian._ _“_Its excavation has been possible in the context of the broader intervention of stabilization and re-profiling of the excavation fronts, overseen by the Great Pompeii Project.” The eruption of Mounts Vesuvius in 79 A.D. destroyed the ancient city of Pompeii, near present-day Naples, and killed more than 2,000 people. Pompeii draws nearly four million visitors per year, making it one of the world’s most visited archaeological sites. 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