Colorful murals dating back to ancient times discovered in Pompeii. See the artwork

Archaeologists discovered a series of ancient frescoes among the ruins of Pompeii, officials said.

The artwork — which contains vivid depictions of a variety of creatures — was uncovered inside a large house in the city, according to a Dec. 23 news release from the Pompeii Archaeological Park.

Specifically, the frescoes were found lining the walls of a colonnaded reception hall in the home.

A colorful menagerie is portrayed against a red background, including roosters, ducks, squid, fish, molluscs and a wild boar.

The artwork, which is considered extremely valuable, is meant to signify a rich banquet, officials said. It would have been made by applying wet plaster and water-based pigments to the walls.

This is just the latest of many archaeological discoveries made in Pompeii. So far, more than 1,070 residential units and 13,000 rooms have been uncovered.

The Roman city was destroyed in 79 A.D. when Mount Vesuvius erupted, blanketing the buildings in a thick layer of ash, which kept it well-preserved over the centuries.

The buried ruins were not discovered until the 16th century, with systematic excavations beginning in 1738.

Google Translate was used to translate a news release from the Pompeii Archaeological Park.

This story was originally published December 24, 2024 at 2:27 PM with the headline "Colorful murals dating back to ancient times discovered in Pompeii. See the artwork."