20/10/2025
This is a nymphaeum with a statue discovered in Pompeii, dating back to the 1st century AD, frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Carved from marble, the statue stands within a niche, once adorned with mosaic tiles. Water, the lifeblood of the city, flowed through the statue, filling the basin she holds, then cascading down into a pool. The volcanic ash that entombed her has etched a patina of age, whispering tales of a vibrant past.
A silent guardian, she embodies the grace and fragility of life. Though marred by time and disaster, her beauty persists, a testament to the enduring spirit of Pompeii. She stands as a poignant reminder of the ephemeral nature of existence, and the enduring power of art.