Pompeii’s ceremonial chariot on display at the Roman Museum

It was early 2021, when a ceremonial parade chariot was found during an excavation near a Villa Suburbana in Civita Giuliana, positioned outside the walls of Pompeii.

Excavation work, which began as early as 2019, had uncovered numerous finds in the same area. Such as the remains of 3 equids, a harnessed horse, a wooden slab of a two-story portico.

The ceremonial chariot was located in the servile part of Pompeii’s Villa Suburbana. And it was probably used for religious rituals, such as marriage and to accompany the bride to her new home, hence its name “Bride’s Chariot” .

Ceremonial chariot consisted of 4 large iron wheels that supported a light wooden caisson (0.90 x 1.40 m) with a seat for one or two people.

The caisson composed of red and black wooden panels on the side, with carved bronze sheets, was embellished at the back with stupendous bronze and tin medallions.

The finely decorated medallions depicted erotic scenes with satyrs and nymphs. And they were surrounded by smaller medallions, also made of tin, with cupids performing various activities.

The chariot was brought to light thanks to the difficult and delicate work done by Pompeii restorers, who specialize in the treatment of wood and metal. During the excavation, they had to proceed delicately and with micro excavations to avoid breakage and loss of important materials.

Pompeii’s ceremonial chariot on display at the National Roman Museum

Today, thanks to the important work of restorers and the parts recovered during the excavation, it has been possible to reconstruct the precious chariot.

A unique find, not only because of the exceptional state of preservation of the decorations and other parts of the structure. But also because it is not an agricultural chariot, but rather a ceremonial chariot, the only example found in Italy.

From May 4 to July 30, 2023, you can admire this exceptional and unique artifact at the exhibition ” The Instant and Eternity. Between Us and the Ancients” at the National Roman Museum, Terme di Diocleziano.