Naples, Italy – A recent study on the victims of the Mount Vesuvius eruption in AD79 has uncovered surprising revelations about the identities and relationships of those trapped in the ash of Pompeii. Scientists studying DNA of the preserved bodies have discovered that the well-known group huddled under a staircase actually includes a male figure believed to be the ‘mother’.

Archaeologists have long immortalized the victims of Pompeii by filling the voids left by their bodies with plaster. However, this new analysis challenges assumptions about the individuals captured in some of the most iconic casts. Researchers from Italy, Germany, and the US extracted ancient DNA from bone fragments mixed with plaster taken from 14 casts, shedding light on the true identities of the victims.

Among the findings, it was revealed that the bracelet-wearing figure thought to be the mother was actually a male with dark skin and black hair. The DNA evidence showed no connection between the ‘mother’ figure and the two boys found alongside him. The study suggests that the victims had origins in various eastern Mediterranean or North African populations, challenging previous assumptions about their relationships.

In addition to debunking long-held beliefs about the victims, the study also reexamined the relationships of other trapped individuals, such as two figures found embracing in the House of the Cryptoporticus. Previous interpretations of these casts as representing a mother and daughter, sisters, or lovers were ruled out, indicating that one of the victims was a male and that they were not related through the female line.

The researchers believe that previous restorers may have manipulated the positions of the casts to tell a more captivating story. While some narratives were overturned, such as the gender of the victims found alone in the Villa of Mysteries, other aspects of the findings confirmed existing assumptions about the identities of the victims.

Experts outside of the study have noted the significance of these new findings, highlighting the diversity and mobility of people in Pompeii during the Roman period. The study’s revelations about the victims’ origins challenge traditional interpretations and shed new light on the lives of those who perished in the ancient disaster.