Gallo-Roman wall fresco discovered at the Avignon City Hall in France

An ancient wall fresco dating to the first century AD was unearthed at the beginning of the week by council workers digging to install garbage bins along the walls of the Avignon City Hall (Hotel de Ville d'Avignon).

The fresco of a crowned Eros is believed to date from the 1st century AD 
[Credit: © Radio France, Jean-Pierre Burlet]

The fresco depicts a crowned Eros, surrounded by geometric motifs and bordered by a frieze whose gold, red, blue and green colours that are still remarkably preserved.

Its discovery comes as no surprise to archaeologists since the Gallo-Romans of the city of Avenio had set up their forum, the central place where the citizens conducted their political and economic affairs, on this exact spot.

The Regional Directorate of Cultural Action has, however, decided that this exceptional fresco will probably be re-buried because it is part of a monumental portico that has already been identified by archaeologists.

Source: France bleu [March 18, 2017]