Pompei's 'Carro della Sposa' fully restored after two-year conservation
Discovered in 2021 at the Villa of Civita Giuliana in Pompeii, the 'Carro della Sposa' (Bride's Chariot) has undergone restoration two years after its excavation. This pilentum, a lavish Roman carriage used for elite ceremonies, stands out in Italy due to its exceptional type and state of preservation. A varied team employed casting methods to retrieve mineralized wood, iron, and organic materials during the restoration process. Adorned with intricate bronze and silver embellishments, the chariot will be showcased at the Museo Nazionale Romano from May 4 to July 30 in the exhibition titled 'L'istante e l'eternità.' This restoration is part of a 2017 anti-looting initiative that also revealed a stable containing horse remains and casts of eruption victims.
Key facts
- The 'Carro della Sposa' is a four-wheeled ceremonial chariot discovered in 2021 at the Villa of Civita Giuliana in Pompeii.
- The restoration took two years and involved an interdisciplinary team.
- The chariot is a pilentum, a luxury vehicle used by Roman elites for ceremonies and bridal processions.
- It features bronze and silver decorations with erotic scenes.
- The chariot will be exhibited from May 4 to July 30 at the Museo Nazionale Romano in the exhibition 'L'istante e l'eternità'.
- The recovery was part of an anti-looting operation since 2017 involving the Prosecutor's Office of Torre Annunziata, Carabinieri TPC, and the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
- Other finds include a stable with horse remains, slaves' quarters, and casts of two eruption victims.
- Gabriel Zuchtriegel stated the chariot symbolizes legality and protection of the Vesuvian territory.
Entities
Institutions
- Museo Nazionale Romano
- Ministero della Cultura italiano
- Ministero della Cultura e dello sport della Grecia
- Parco Archeologico di Pompei
- Procura della Repubblica di Torre Annunziata
- Carabinieri del Nucleo Tutela Patrimonio Culturale
- Comune di Pompei
- Artribune
Locations
- Pompei
- Civita Giuliana
- Italia
- Grecia
- Torre Annunziata
- Vesuvio