<p><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5fba2b2f32f2170011f70837-2400/Pompeii remains.JPG" border="0" alt="Pompeii remains.JPG" data-mce-source="Luigi Spina/Reuters" data-mce-caption="Remains of two men who were killed in 79 AD in the eruption of Pompeii."></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>The remains of two men who were killed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD have been discovered in Pompeii.</p><p>Thought to be a master and his slave, the incredibly well-preserved bodies are considered a "truly exceptional" find by archaeologists.</p><p>When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, the ancient Roman city of Pompeii was covered in hot volcanic ash, killing an estimated 2,000 people and freezing the city in time.</p><p>The two latest bodies to be discovered were found during the excavation of a large villa on the outskirts of the city this month.</p><p>"These two victims were perhaps seeking refuge when they were swept away by the prognostic current at about 9 in the morning," Massimo Osanna, director of Pompeii Archeological Park, told reporters, as per <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/italy-pompeii/pompeiis-ruins-yield-scalded-bodies-of-rich-man-and-slave-idUSL8N2I709G">Reuters</a>.</p><p>He continued: "It is a death by thermal shock, as also demonstrated by their clenched feet and hands." </p><p>It's likely the men survived the first eruption but were killed in a second blast, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/21/pompeii-dig-reveals-almost-perfect-remains-of-a-master-and-his-slave">the Guardian reports</a>. </p><p>The bodies were lying close together in an underground chamber of the villa, located in Civita Giuliana, which is roughly 700 meters north-west of the center of Pompeii.</p><p>One of the bodies is thought to be a man of high status, aged between 30 and 40. There are traces of wool under his neck, he had a strong bone structure, and he was likely wearing a tunic.</p><p>The other body is believed to be of a younger man, aged 18-23, wearing a pleated tunic. He had compressed vertebrae, which suggests he was a manual laborer or slave.</p><p>Casts of the bodies have been created from the remains and their imprints in the hardened ash.</p><p>Osanna called the discovery "truly exceptional," while Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said in a statement that it highlighted Pompeii's status as "an incredible place for research and study."</p><p>The ruins of Pompeii were first discovered in the 16th century, with over 1,500 of the estimated 2,000 victims having now been found.</p><p>The current 1m excavation project continues to unearth new information, including <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-harnessed-horse-unearthed-in-ancient-stable-near-pompeii-2018-12">a harnessed horse</a> in December 2018 and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/archaeologists-discovered-enchanted-shrine-pompeii-preserved-frescoes-2018-10">an enchanted shrine</a> in October that year.</p><p>Pompeii Archeological Park is currently closed to visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic.</p><p><strong>Read more:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/ap-harnessed-horse-unearthed-in-ancient-stable-near-pompeii-2018-12" data-analytics-position="5" data-analytics-module="">Harnessed horse belonging to 'a high-ranking military officer' unearthed in ancient stable near Pompeii</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/archaeologists-discovered-ancient-bedroom-erotica-art-in-pompeii-2018-11" data-analytics-position="6" data-analytics-module="">Archaeologists discovered ancient bedroom 'erotica' art in Pompeii</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/archaeologists-discovered-enchanted-shrine-pompeii-preserved-frescoes-2018-10" data-analytics-position="7" data-analytics-module="">Archaeologists discovered an 'enchanted' shrine in Pompeii and its well-preserved frescoes are beautiful</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/italy-master-and-slave-found-in-pompeii-eerie-remains-frozen-2020-11#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/london-streets-left-deserted-during-covid-19-lockdown-2020-3">Inside London during COVID-19 lockdown</a></p>
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