Towards the end of the 19th century, Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Era Japan were involved in a long-standing regional dispute that devolved into an armed conflict known as the First Sino-Japanese War. The war began over a debate as to which nations should be allowed to exert control over the strategically important peninsula of Korea. The conflict ended with an outcome that permanently changed the geopolitics of the region. The war not only signaled the rise of Japan but also heralded the decline of China’s influence over East Asia.   The Historical Context That Preceded the First Sino-Japanese War The new Japanese constitution is read out by the emperor of Japan. Source: The Graphic / Wikimedia Commons   The late 19th century was a period of significant change in East Asian geopolitics that saw regional power structures shift and old orders collapse. The Qing Dynasty—which had ruled China for over two hundred years—faced a series of internal and external struggles that weakened its hold over the region. The most significant of these were the Taiping Rebellion, a civil war that devastated China’s internal stability, and the Opium Wars, a series of conflicts that left China’s economy severely weakened.   As China’s influence began to wane, Japan was rapidly transformed into a modern nation by the administration that came to power with the restoration of the Meiji Emperor in 1868. After generations of isolationist rule under the Tokugawa Shogunate, the new Meiji government sought to pursue aggressive policies of modernization, industrialization, and expansionism. Notably, the Meiji Emperor looked to European nations such as Britain, France, and Germany, and sought to emulate their success with a policy of colonial expansionism. To realize these ambitions, the Meiji-era government invested heavily in modernizing the Japanese military and soon built up a force that could rival the nations of East Asia.   Standing between the waning power of China and the expansionist policies of Japan was the peninsula of Korea. The nation had long been a tributary state of China and was a key source of wealth for the Qing Dynasty. However, for Japan, the area held vital strategic importance. Control over Korea not only brought economic benefits but also provided Japan with an important buffer zone that would help the nation defend itself against other regional powers.   The Scramble to Control the Korean Peninsula Caricature about the dispute between China, Japan, and Russia over Korea. Source: The Tobae / Wikimedia Commons   While Korea was historically known as the “Hermit Kingdom” due to its isolationism, it was still a major part of China’s tributary system. This system allowed China to exert a level of soft power over its regional neighbors by providing military and diplomatic assistance in return for a regular monetary tribute. There were various levels of autonomy under this system, in which Korea maintained almost total control over its domestic affairs. Nevertheless, Korea’s participation in this system of tribute guaranteed China a favorable trading and diplomatic relationship with the peninsula.   For Japan, this system presented an inherent barrier to the Meiji government’s ambitions of expansionism and military dominance. If Japan were to end this system and exert control over Korea, it would be able to take advantage of the area’s rich agricultural resources while developing its own soft power system. Geographically, Korea was an ideal place for Japan to exercise its colonial ambitions as the peninsula lay just a few kilometers from Japan and provided a natural land barrier between its biggest rivals in East Asia.   For China, Korea remained a vital asset during a time of internal and external conflict that had weakened the nation’s economic and regional influence. Therefore, any attempt by Japan to exert dominance over the area would be met with the strongest possible reaction. With the stage set for a showdown on the peninsula, Japan sought to take advantage of any possible opportunity to fulfill its own goals. Such an opportunity soon came when the Donghak Rebellion plunged Korea into chaos.   The Donghak Rebellion: China Steps In Picture depicting peasants gathered at Malmok marketplace as they ready to revolt. Source: Wikimedia Commons   After almost half a century of internal strife, the Donghak peasant rebellion and subsequent military intervention by China was a catalyst for the First Sino-Japanese War. The rebellion was a broad movement of farmers and devout Buddhists that had begun in the 1860s as an anti-Western coalition that rejected modernism and embraced Confucianism and traditional aspects of Korea’s shamanistic religion.   The Donghak movement became a full-scale rebellion in 1894 when a large group of peasant farmers rebelled against local authorities in response to high taxes and government corruption. The uprising soon threatened to plunge the Korean peninsula into a full-scale peasant revolt. In response, the beleaguered Korean authorities petitioned China for military aid in order to assist their domestic troops in suppressing the revolt. The forces of the Qing Dynasty responded by sending two thousand seven-hundred troops to the region to bolster Korean forces.   While Japan was informed of China’s actions beforehand in accordance with the 1885 Treaty of Tientsin, the Meiji government interpreted China’s intervention as a ploy to exert its own influence over Korea, and soon Tokyo dispatched its own troops. These forces set up defensive positions within Seoul under the pretense that they were protecting the lives of Japanese citizens from the threat of peasant violence. However, Japan’s true intentions soon became clear. Japanese troops swiftly took control of the royal palace in Seoul and demanded that the government of Korea under King Gojong adopt new domestic reforms that would benefit the Meiji Emperor.   How Diplomacy Failed to Prevent the First Sino-Japanese War A woodblock print depicting the Battle of Phungdo, 1894. Source: Kobayashi Kiyochika / Wikimedia Commons   Before the Sino-Japanese War began, both sides attempted to find a diplomatic solution to end the crisis. The diplomatic efforts began in May 1894 when the Qing Dynasty and representatives of the Meiji Emperor began negotiations to disengage their respective troops from Korea. However, despite publicly declaring their willingness to negotiate, both countries were secretly preparing to engage in a full-scale conflict while these discussions took place. Nevertheless, Japanese diplomats proposed to the Qing Dynasty that a joint commission be created to reform the Korean peninsula and its relations with nations other than China. This proposal was dismissed by China, who saw it as an attempt by Japan to undermine its influence in East Asia.   The diplomatic path to avoiding war was blocked irrevocably in the summer of 1894 by the drastic actions of Japanese troops who took control of the Korean royal palace and held King Gojong hostage. After this step, Japan sought to use its military to force the Korean government to enact a series of reforms that would benefit Tokyo. However, such a brazen act angered the Qing Dynasty, and war was officially declared on August 1st, 1894, marking the start of the Sino-Japanese War.   Key Battles of the First Sino-Japanese War Soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army, 1894. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The First Sino-Japanese War unfolded over a series of significant battles and decisive victories that swiftly showed the world just how quickly Meiji-era Japan had modernized its military. When facing Japanese troops, Chinese forces were shown to be ill-equipped and poorly trained. As a result, the Qing Dynasty suffered crushing defeats at the hands of Tokyo’s better-equipped soldiers.   The first decisive battle of the war took place at Pungdo on July 25, 1894. During this battle, Japan’s naval forces roundly defeated the Chinese navy in a victory that allowed Japan unfettered access to the Bay of Asan, where it was able to land more troops in Korea and control vital trade routes in the Yellow Sea. Another decisive blow was dealt to China’s Navy at the Battle of the Yalu River on September 17th. During the battle, Japan’s modern warships outmaneuvered and outgunned the Chinese Navy and effectively destroyed China’s Beiyang fleet.   The defeat left the Qing Dynasty vulnerable to attack along much of its coastline, allowing Japan to continue its conquest across much of the Korean peninsula. Further Japanese victories came in September when it defeated Chinese forces and took control of the city of Pyongyang. Following this victory, Tokyo’s forces began to advance into the territory of Manchuria, and in early 1895, Japanese forces captured the fortress city of Weihaiwei from the Chinese. With the Japanese encroaching upon the territory of mainland China, the Qing Dynasty made the radical decision to sue for peace in order to bring the devastating conflict to an end.   Public Opinion During the First Sino-Japanese War The Battle of Pyongyang, 1894. Source: The British Library / Wikimedia Commons   Public sentiment towards the Sino-Japanese War couldn’t have been more different in Japan and China. In Meiji-Era Tokyo, there was widespread support for the war, which was further amplified by a growing nationalist sentiment in the country. The Japanese national press and government propaganda spread the narrative that the war was needed to fulfill Japan’s expansionist destiny—a goal that many believed justified the use of any means necessary, including military conflict.   In contrast to Japan’s public support for the war, the national sentiment in China was deeply divided. While many in China saw the war as necessary to maintain regional interests in East Asia, a great deal of national sentiment opposed the conflict. For many in China, the ambitions of the Qing Dynasty to maintain control over Korea were opposed to unfolding internal tensions that remained unaddressed. In brief, the Sino-Japanese War came at a time when Japan was united behind the goal of expansionism, and China was divided over its future.   The Reaction of the International Community Cartoon depicting Western powers trying to divide their interests and influence in China after the First Sino-Japanese War, by Henri Meyer, 1898. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The success of the Japanese military during the First Sino-Japanese War alarmed international observers who were taken by surprise at the rapid modernization of Japan under the Meiji Emperor. The Russian Empire was particularly alarmed by Japan’s expansion into East Asia as it maintained its own influence in the region of Manchuria and Korea, areas that were now largely controlled by the Japanese military. This regional encroachment by Japan into Russia’s sphere of influence eventually led to the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), a conflict that would have devastating consequences for the world.   While the conflict demonstrated Japan’s newfound military strength to the world, the outcome for China was devastating. The defeat of the Qing Dynasty signaled to Western powers that the once mighty Chinese Empire had begun to collapse. As a result, European nations began to encroach on China’s sovereignty and eroded its regional power through a series of unequal treaties that demanded unrealistic concessions from Beijing. Moreover, China’s defeat proved to be a catalyst for internal tensions that culminated in the 1911 revolution, which overthrew the Qing Dynasty and transformed the country into a republic.   The Treaty of Shimonoseki Peace Conference at Shimonoseki, 1929, by Nagatochi Hideta. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The First Sino-Japanese War was officially brought to a close on April 17, 1895, with the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki. The terms of this treaty overwhelmingly favored Japan and brought about a significant shift in the power dynamics of East Asia. The treaty forced China to end its tributary relationship with Korea and recognize the peninsula as a fully independent nation. This not only reduced Chinese influence in the region but also paved the way for Japan to establish a foothold and exploit the rich resources of the area.   Moreover, China agreed to cede the territories of Taiwan, the Liaodong Peninsula, and the Pescadores Islands to Japan. While Tokyo was eventually forced to return control of Liaodong to China after the Triple Intervention of France, Russia, and Germany, it still maintained significant control of the region. The Treaty of Shimonoseki was also highly beneficial to the Japanese economy because the terms agreed by both nations stipulated that in return for peace, China would allow Japanese traders to operate in the ports of Shashi, Chongqing, and Suzhou.   While the Treaty of Shimonoseki did bring the First Sino-Japanese War to an end, it created an entirely new set of grievances and territorial disputes between Japan and China that paved the way for a much larger conflict. Moreover, Japan’s rapid success during the war further bolstered the nationalist and expansionist ambitions of the hardline factions within the Japanese military—aspirations that would have devastating consequences for the world.

Two Celtic gold coins that are among the oldest ever found in Switzerland have been discovered by volunteers near Arisdorf, three miles south of the German border. They date to the second half of the 3rd century B.C., and only about 20 examples are known from Switzerland. Research suggests that the introduction of monetary systems in Central Europe can be traced back to Celtic mercenaries. These men were paid for their services in Greece with coins and brought them back home with them. Around the middle of the 3rd century BC, the Celts began their own coinage, imitating gold coins of the Macedonian king Philip II (359–336 BC). The obverse of these coins depicts the head of the Greek god Apollo, the reverse a chariot (biga). The Celts adapted both motifs in their own distinctive style. The two gold coins from Arisdorf are among these imitations. Coin expert Michael Nick of the Inventory of Coin Finds of Switzerland (IFS) identified the stater (weight 7.8 g) as the Gamshurst type and the quarter stater (1.86 g) as the Montmorot type. They thus belong to the very small group of just over 20 known examples of the oldest Celtic coins from Switzerland, which originated around the middle and second half of the 3rd century BC. These were extremely valuable coins, far too valuable to serve as regular circulation currency. The Celts probably used them to pay their soldiers just as the original Greek staters had been used to pay for their mercenary services in Macedon. They may have also been diplomatic gifts, to secure political favors or alliances, or as dowries. The find site is on the Bärenfels Moor, which may be a clue to how the coins got there. These gold coins are most often found in graves or in bogs/bodies of water which were held as sacred by the Celts. The coins are believed to have been left as offerings. Because the two gold coins are so rare, canton officials decided to put them on display as soon as possible. In March, they will join the ongoing exhibition “Treasure Finds” at the Historical Museum Basel in the Barfüsserkirche. The exhibition includes Celtic silver coins from a hoard of 34 dating to around 80-70 B.C. that were found in the Bärenfels area in 2022.

Public DomainActress, advocate, and Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor, circa 1955. Elizabeth Taylor captivated audiences worldwide with her onscreen presence, but to simply call her an actress would be an understatement. She was one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century. Taylor made her big screen debut at just 10 years old, and she continued to dominate American culture for the next 60 years as a performer, an advocate, and a beauty icon. Her story was far more than her career, however. Taylor was just as famous for her tumultuous personal life as she was for her silver screen roles. She was married eight times to seven different men, including her relationship with Richard Burton that infamously began as an affair on the set of Cleopatra. As she wrote in her memoir, “I’ve always admitted that I’m ruled by my passions.” There’s a reason that one of today’s biggest stars, Taylor Swift, channeled Elizabeth Taylor on her latest album. Click here to view slideshow A Career That Rewrote Hollywood's Rules Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born to American parents in London on Feb. 27, 1932. Her mother, a former actress, had given up performing after she married, but young Elizabeth soon followed in her footsteps. She started dancing at the age of three and wanted to be a ballerina when she grew up. But life had other plans for her. "We had an idyllic life [in London] — a house in the country, I had a pony, I went to the same ballet school where the little princesses went — and it was all just perfect," Taylor reflected, speaking to Interview magazine in 2007. "And then Hitler started dropping those damn bombs and all of a sudden things were different." The outbreak of World War II forced the Taylors to return to the United States in 1939, where they settled in Los Angeles. There, a family friend suggested that Elizabeth take a screen test. It ultimately changed the course of her life forever. In 1942, at just 10 years old, she made her debut in There's One Born Every Minute, and her talent was already on full display. It was 1944's National Velvet, however, that truly cemented Elizabeth Taylor as a breakout star. The film became a massive hit, bringing in more than $4 million and skyrocketing the 12-year-old actress to fame. Of course, becoming so famous at such a young age came with its own set of problems. "She went to school on the lot, and was constantly around people much older than her," Nanette Burstein, who directed a documentary about Taylor, told Vogue in 2024. "So she did not have a childhood, yet was playing a mature woman on screen." Unlike other young actresses of her era, Taylor was able to seamlessly transition into adult roles. Her stunning beauty and violet eyes certainly helped, but it was her emotional depth and willingness to take risks that truly set her apart. Before she turned 20, she was holding her own opposite Spencer Tracy in Father of the Bride and delivering riveting performances in dramas like 1951's A Place in the Sun. The 1950s established Elizabeth Taylor as Hollywood royalty, with acclaimed performances in Giant alongside James Dean and adaptations of Tennessee Williams plays that showcased her range. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Suddenly, Last Summer earned her consecutive Academy Award nominations, with the latter bringing her a Golden Globe for Best Actress. The 1960s brought her even more success. She won her first Oscar in 1960 for her performance as a call girl in BUtterfield 8 — even though she admitted that she hated the film. Public DomainElizabeth Taylor in the 1963 film Cleopatra. More significant, though, was her role in Cleopatra, for which Taylor negotiated the first million-dollar contract for a single movie role — a remarkable feat considering the industry was not exactly kind to women at the time. Beyond that, though, the film was notoriously expensive, didn't break even at the box office, and is considered by many to have marked the end of Hollywood's Golden Age excess. That said, it also won four Oscars, and Taylor's contract was a revolutionary step forward in how stars approached negotiations. She won her second Oscar in 1966 for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, in which she transformed herself into an overweight, bitter wife opposite Richard Burton's alcoholic professor. Even today, the performance is considered one of the most powerful in cinema history — raw, unflinching, and fearless. It was clear that Taylor wasn't content to coast on her beauty; she sought out complex, challenging roles that allowed her to demonstrate genuine artistry. Throughout all of this, though, movie audiences and news media were focused on more than just Elizabeth Taylor's roles. Her romantic life, frankly, might have been more dramatic than some of her films, and people watched it unfold like a soap opera on the world stage. Eight Marriages, One Great Love Story Elizabeth Taylor was married eight times to seven men, and that fact was not lost on the American public. Her relationships were heavily scrutinized, as was her seemingly insatiable appetite for romance. "I thought something would automatically happen to me inside," Taylor stated in Burstein's HBO documentary, Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes. "I thought I would obtain maturity just because I was a Mrs. instead of a Miss. Of course, it has nothing to do with it." Her first marriage, at just 18 years old, was to hotel heir Nicky Hilton. It lasted less than a year. A second marriage to British actor Michael Wilding a year later produced two sons, Christopher and Michael Jr., before the relationship ended in 1957. Mere days after that divorce was finalized, she married Hollywood producer Mike Todd, with whom she experienced what friends described as her happiest period. The birth of their daughter, Elizabeth Frances, made it seem like nothing could end their idyllic romance. Then, tragedy struck. Todd was killed in a plane crash just after their first anniversary. In her grief, Taylor turned to Todd's best friend, entertainer Eddie Fisher, which led to one of Hollywood's most notorious scandals. Until then, Fisher had been married to Singin' in the Rain star Debbie Reynolds, but not even three hours after their divorce was finalized in 1959, he was married to Taylor. It's not surprising that the public began to view Taylor as a homewrecker. Library of CongressElizabeth Taylor with her three children in September 1957. Reynolds and Taylor eventually made amends, though, and the marriage to Fisher became an item on Taylor's list of regrets. "That was the only thing we had in common — was Mike," she said. "I never loved him. I liked him. I felt sorry for him. And I liked talking with him about Mike... But I trapped myself in that." But even that dark period paled in comparison to her tempestuous love affair with Richard Burton. They met on the set of Cleopatra while they were both married to other people, and their chemistry was so intense that it resulted in a full-fledged affair. Burton, however, reportedly thought it would amount to nothing more than a fling. Per a 1998 article in Vanity Fair, he walked into the men's makeup trailer one day and proclaimed: "Gentlemen, I've just f—ed Elizabeth Taylor in the back of my Cadillac!" Of course, their relationship wound up being much more than a fling. They wed in 1964, divorced in 1974, remarried in 1975, and divorced again in 1976. It was a seemingly endless cycle of passion and destruction, made all the more difficult and confusing by the number of films they co-starred in. Burton was a notorious alcoholic, as well, which certainly did not help either of their reputations. He died much younger than she did, passing away at the age of 58 in 1984. Despite everything, though, Taylor later admitted, "I was still madly in love with him the day he died. I think he still loved me, too." Taylor's final marriages — to U.S. Senator John Warner and construction worker Larry Fortensky — were quieter affairs. But even while her romantic life was turbulent, her other relationships were far more stable and possibly even more impactful. Two of her closest friends were Montgomery Clift and Rock Hudson, closeted gay actors who felt comfortable with Taylor, as Burstein explained, "because she had zero homophobia and had great empathy that they were living this double life." And from those bonds, Elizabeth Taylor was spurred on to activism. Elizabeth Taylor's Greatest Role: An Activist When Rock Hudson died from AIDS in 1985, Taylor was particularly heartbroken. She had witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of the epidemic. At the time, the disease was largely being ignored or dismissed as an issue that only mattered to the queer community. "I kept seeing all these news reports on this new disease and kept asking myself why no one was doing anything," she once recalled, per CBS. "And then I realized that I was just like them. I wasn't doing anything to help." At a time when fear and ignorance paralyzed society, when even mentioning AIDS could end careers, Taylor leveraged her fame with fearless determination. She and a group of physicians helped to establish the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), and she later founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991, using her celebrity to shine light on a crisis that many wanted to ignore. The foundation raised hundreds of millions of dollars while providing direct care and moral support to vulnerable patients. John Mathew Smith/Wikimedia CommonsElizabeth Taylor at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony in 2002. Her advocacy work earned recognition that rivaled her Hollywood achievements. She received the French Legion of Honour, the Presidential Citizens Medal, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. In 2000, Queen Elizabeth II even named her a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. "What it comes down to, ultimately, is love," Taylor said after accepting the GLAAD Vanguard Award that same year. "How can anything bad come out of love? The bad stuff comes out of mistrust, misunderstanding, and, God knows, from hate and from ignorance." But as she fought for greater awareness surrounding AIDS, her own health issues continued to plague her. Throughout her life, she broke her back at least five times, survived two severe bouts of pneumonia, underwent three hip replacements, and had surgery to remove a brain tumor. Eventually, those health issues caught up to her. On March 23, 2011, after being admitted to Cedars-Sinai Hospital for congestive heart failure, Elizabeth Taylor died at the age of 79. But her legacy did not die with her. As for what that legacy is, Taylor had told Barbara Walters in a 1999 interview what she wanted written on her tombstone: "'Here lies Liz. She lived.' No, I don't like 'Liz.' I hate that name. 'Here lies Elizabeth. She hated being called Liz. But she lived.'" After this look into the life of Elizabeth Taylor, read all about the original flapper, Clara Bow. Or, go inside the career of Mae West in 33 iconic photos. The post 33 Iconic Photos Of Elizabeth Taylor, The ‘Queen Of Hollywood’ appeared first on All That's Interesting.

1448 - Pope Nicholas V appoints Rudolf of Diepholt, Bishop of Utrecht, as cardinal 1823 - Play "Rosamunde, Princess of Cyprus" by Helmina von Chézy with incidental music by Franz Schubert premieres in Vienna 1915 - WWI: ANZAC troops complete their withdrawal from Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula 1941 - Free France under adm Muselier occupies St-Pierre et Miquelon 1985 - Denis Potvin passes Bobby Orr as NHL defenseman scorer (916 points) 1991 - "Father of the Bride" film comedy starring Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, and Martin Short, premieres; film is a re-make of 1950 vehicle for Spencer Tracy and ELizabeth Taylor 1999 - Portugal returns Macau to China 2018 - New figures show average US male weighs 198 pounds and stands 5 feet 9 inches, women 171 pounds and 5 feet 4 inches More Historical Events »

Parco Archeologico di PompeiA fresco fragment depicting a peahen that was recently uncovered at the Villa Poppaea in Pompeii. Ongoing excavations and restoration work at the Villa Poppaea near Pompeii have revealed new frescoes that feature vivid images of a peahen and a comedic theatrical mask. The Villa Poppaea is located between the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, which were both buried under volcanic ash during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E. What’s more, the villa may have been the residence of Emperor Nero’s second wife, Poppaea Sabina. After the eruption of 79 C.E., the villa was buried under the massive pyroclastic flow, freezing these frescoes in time. Recent excavations have unveiled more than just these stunning frescoes, however. They also discovered four new rooms of the villa and the ashy shells of trees that used to sit in the villa’s garden. The Fresco Fragments Found At The Villa Poppaea Near Pompeii Parco Archeologico di PompeiIt’s believed that the Villa Poppaea belonged to Emperor Nero’s second wife, Poppaea Sabina. The current excavations are focused on the villa’s so-called Hall of the Mask and the Peacock, according to a statement from the Parco Archeologico di Pompei. Archaeologists found fragments of new frescoes, only adding to the collection of frescoes for which the villa is already well known. One of these fragments featured a peahen, now missing its head due to damage. This mural is the sister piece to the peacock painting that had previously been found on the opposite wall. There were also several fresco fragments that depicted a theatrical mask. While other frescoes depicting masks have been found in the hall, this one stands out. Parco Archeologico di PompeiA fresco fragment showing a comedic theatrical mask of the character Pappus. This mask was used in the Atellan Comedy, a type of improvised farce popular in ancient Rome, whereas other frescoes depicting theatrical masks have all been from tragedies. Specifically, the fragments depicted the character of Pappus, an old man who tries to act young and gets mocked for it. Archaeologists also uncovered several fresco fragments that depicted a golden tripod, which sat within a circle. This matched a similar depiction of a bronze tripod found on another wall. The Villa Poppaea Excavations Revealed More Than Just Frescoes Archaeologists also identified the natural molds that had formed around the trees that once sat in the villa’s garden, created when ash and lava blanketed the area in 79 C.E. Researchers were able to determine the trees’ original positions, finding that their placement was in a similar ornamental scheme to other documented patterns in Pompeiian houses. Parco Archeologico di PompeiRestoration work is also taking place in some of the more ornately decorated rooms of the villa. While it is still unclear which exact species of trees were planted here, archaeologists hypothesized that they may be olive trees, which have been identified in nearby archaeological sites. Either way, like the so-called bodies of Pompeii, these trees serve as haunting reminders of what was lost during the disaster of 79 C.E. The recent excavations also revealed four new rooms of the villa. This discovery brings the number of known rooms of the Villa Pomppaea up to a whopping 103. Archaeologists also uncovered a seasonal stream that flowed near the property, which likely began after the 1631 eruption of Mount Vesuvius. “These initial results offer new and promising research perspectives for understanding the villa’s layout, and for studying the long-term interactions between human settlement and the natural environment,” Director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, said in a statement. Restoration work remains ongoing at Villa Poppaea, specifically efforts to restore the decorative elements of some of the villa’s rooms. One of these spaces is the cubicula in the southwestern part of the villa. This room is covered in stucco, frescoed walls, painted vaults, and floor mosaics. The aim of the restoration is to restore the “full legibility” of the frescoes and mosaics — poignant reminders of what life looked like in the shadow of Vesuvius in the era just before it erupted. After reading about the numerous discoveries at the Villa Poppaea, check out 33 of Pompeii’s stunning frescoes. Then, learn about the elaborate Roman shrine found at Pompeii. The post Archaeologists Near Pompeii Just Discovered Vivid Frescoes Inside A Lavish Villa That May Have Belonged To Emperor Nero’s Second Wife appeared first on All That's Interesting.