Pompeii Shows its True Colours
According to new research presented to Sapienza University in Rome last week, large swaths of the vivid “Pompeiian red” frescoes in the town actually began life as yellow – and were turned red by the gases emitted from Vesuvius as it erupted in AD 79.
The 18th century rediscovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum brought their trademark hue into favor. Now academics must find whether reds come from valuable lead minium, an imitation colorant, or eruption discolorations.
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